Zika Virus Persistence in Immune-Privileged Organs
Abstract
Zika virus has caused major outbreaks in the Western Hemisphere over the last 2 years and has become a virus with major public health implications. Congenitally infected humans develop brain and eye abnormalities. Infected adults frequently develop eye inflammation. Additionally, recent evidence has clearly demonstrated that Zika virus can infect the eyes and testes of humans. Since the eyes, testes, and ovaries are more protected from the immune system than other organs, the conventional thinking has been that Zika virus may persist in these organs much longer than in other infected sites such as the blood or spleen. Studies done using cells in culture have suggested that Zika virus may attach to and enter cells by interacting with TAM receptors, a group of molecules that are displayed on the surface of cells that are targeted by Zika virus. Our proposed studies will benefit public health in three ways. First, we will use animal models to define how TAM receptors may allow Zika virus to infect in the eye, testes, and ovaries and persist within these organs. Second, we will test mechanisms by which the immune system clears Zika virus from immune privileged organs (eyes, testes, ovaries). Finally, we will determine how long ZIKV in these organs is infectious and potentially transmissible. Zika virus has caused epidemics around the world and infected more than one million people in the Western Hemisphere since 2015, resulting in severe developmental abnormalities of the brains and eyes of congenitally infected humans. However, we do not know how Zika virus infection of the testes and ovaries occurs or how this may impact fertility of infected individuals. Thus, there is a critical need to better understand how Zika virus infects these organs. This may lead to development potential therapies that either block Zika virus infection or accelerate clearance of Zika from these target organs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 07, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1710111
Entities
People
- Jonathan Miner
Organizations
- United States Army
- Washington University in St. Louis