Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Commons^™

Molecular Mechanism(S) Of Zika Virus Infection And Associated Neuropathogenesis, Chet Raj Ojha

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is known to induce various neurodevelopmental disorders including microcephaly and growth retardation in newborns from infected mothers. However, the exact mechanism of ZIKV-associated neurodevelopmental disorders is still unknown. The study was aimed at identifying the molecular mechanism(s) of ZIKV infection using in-vitro and in vivo methods. Using three isolated strains of ZIKV (MR766, R103451, and PRVABC59), we show that the Asian strains of ZIKV are more infective and toxic to glial cells and neurons compared to the African strain. Infection by PRVABC59 induces markedly higher release of inflammatory molecules; IP10, RANTES, IL-6, and IFN-β. …