Characterization of Lethal Zika Virus Infection in AG129 Mice

/ / Faculty Research in Latin America, Research

UC BERKELEY AUTHOR: Eva Harris

DATE OF PUBLICATION: April 2016

REGION: South America

REFERENCE: Aliota MT, Caine EA, Walker EC, Larkin KE, Camacho E, Osorio JE. Characterization of Lethal Zika Virus Infection in AG129 Mice. Harris E, ed. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2016;10(4):e0004682. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004682.

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) typically causes a mild and self-limiting illness known as Zika fever, which often is accompanied by maculopapular rash, headache, and myalgia. During the current outbreak in South America, ZIKV infection during pregnancy has been hypothesized to cause microcephaly and other diseases. The detection of ZIKV in fetal brain tissue supports this hypothesis. Because human infections with ZIKV historically have remained sporadic and, until recently, have been limited to small-scale epidemics, neither the disease caused by ZIKV nor the molecular determinants of virulence and/or pathogenicity have been well characterized. Here, we describe a small animal model for wild-type ZIKV of the Asian lineage.

ACCESS: Link to Pubmed