Viruses, Vol. 11, Pages 558: Host Immune Response to ZIKV in an Immunocompetent Embryonic Mouse Model of Intravaginal Infection

Viruses, Vol. 11, Pages 558: Host Immune Response to ZIKV in an Immunocompetent Embryonic Mouse Model of Intravaginal Infection Viruses doi: 10.3390/v11060558 Authors: Svetlana F. Khaiboullina Priscila Lopes Toniana G. de Carvalho Ana Luiza C. V. Real Danielle G. Souza Vivian V. Costa Mauro M. Teixeira Enrrico Bloise Subhash C. Verma Fabiola M. Ribeiro Zika virus (ZIKV) only induces mild symptoms in adults; however, it can cause congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), including microcephaly. Most of the knowledge on ZIKV pathogenesis was gained using immunocompromised mouse models, which do not fully recapitulate human pathology. Moreover, the study of the host immune response to ZIKV becomes challenging in these animals. Thus, the main goal of this study was to develop an immunocompetent mouse model to study the ZIKV spread and teratogeny. FVB/NJ immune competent dams were infected intravaginally with ZIKV during the early stage of pregnancy. We found that the placentae of most fetuses were positive for ZIKV, while the virus was detected in the brain of only about 42% of the embryos. To investigate the host immune response, we measured the expression of several inflammatory factors. Embryos from ZIKV-infected dams had an increased level of inflammatory factors, as compared to Mock. Next, we compared the gene expression levels in embryos from ZIKV-infected dams that were either negative or positive for ZIKV in the brain. The mRNA levels of viral response gen...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research