Bovine Herpesvirus 4 (BHV4): mitochondrial activity and immune response from mammary epithelial cells infected in vitro

• Grant number: 18/26022-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2019
• End date: February 28, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Tereza Cristina Cardoso da Silva
• Grantee: Tereza Cristina Cardoso da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mastitis is one of the main diseases that can affect cattle in the world. The pathology leads to significant economic losses and presents a zoonotic potential once it is associated with pathogens that cause diseases. Bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV-4) is a Rhadinovirus that belongs to the subfamily Gammaherpesvirus isolated from cows with distinct clinical signs, including bovine mastitis. Once present in the animal, BHV-4 is counteracted by the host's immune system and apoptosis. During their evolution, viruses have developed mechanisms in order to evade or accelerate the process of programmed cell death in order to benefit from this biological process. During the infection process, viruses can also interfere with mitochondria bioenergetics. Thus, with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in addition to mitochondria, other cellular components are damaged. The objective of this project is to investigate the relationship between BHV-4 and experimentally infected bovine mammary epithelial cells in order to determine their susceptibility, cell survival, viral replication and ROS production. (AU)