Analysis of participation the E protein in neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence of Rocio virus in an animal model

• Grant number: 12/08778-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: September 02, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Victor Hugo Aquino Quintana
• Grantee: Alberto Anastacio Amarilla Ortiz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/20930-5 - Construction of infectious cDNA clones of encephalitic flaviviruses and identification of molecular determinants in the e glycoprotein for viral infectivity, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The flaviviruses transmitted by mosquitoes cause a variety of diseases, including fevers, encephalitis and hemorrhagic fevers. The Rocio virus (ROCV) is a member of Japanese encephalitis virus serocomplex and has caused fatal encephalitis in various cities in the São Paulo state-Brazil, between the years 1975-1977. The envelope (E) glycoprotein is the major component of the virion external surface, responsible for neurovirulence of some flaviviruses. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of E protein in viral pathogenesis. Two infectious clones from Brazilian isolates of DENV-3 (D3BR/RP1/2003 and D3BR/SL3/2002) and two chimeric viruses from ROCV were constructed. The E protein from D3BR/RP1/2003 and D3BR/SL3/2002 isolates was replaced by E protein from ROCV using cloning platform in yeast. The viral particles have been recovered after several passages. These constructs could serve as an important tool to study aspects related to pathogenesis, as well as could provide a basis for future vaccines.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

AMARILLA, ALBERTO ANASTACIO; FUMAGALLI, MARCILIO JORGE; FIGUEIREDO, MARIO LUIS; LIMA-JUNIOR, DJALMA S.; SANTOS-JUNIOR, NILTON NASCIMENTO; ALFONSO, HELDA LIZ; LIPPI, VERONICA; TRABUCO, AMANDA CRISTINA; LAURETTI, FLAVIO; MULLER, VANESSA DANIELLE; et al. Ilheus and Saint Louis encephalitis viruses elicit cross-protection against a lethal Rocio virus challenge in mice. PLoS One, v. 13, n. 6, JUN 13 2018. (14/15548-4, 12/08778-8, 14/02438-6)

AMARILLA, ALBERTO A.; SANTOS-JUNIOR, NILTON NASCIMENTO; FIGUEIREDO, MARIO LUIS; MESQUITA LUIZ, JOAO PAULO; FUMAGALLI, MARCILIO JORGE; COLON, DAVID F.; LIPPI, VERONICA; ALFONSO, HELDA LIZ; LIMA-JUNIOR, DJALMA S.; TRABUCO, AMANDA C.; et al. CCR2 Plays a Protective Role in Rocio Virus-Induced Encephalitis by Promoting Macrophage Infiltration Into the Brain. Journal of Infectious Diseases, v. 219, n. 12, p. 2015-2025, JUN 15 2019. (12/11169-3, 12/08778-8, 14/15548-4, 14/02438-6)

DE FIGUEIREDO, GLAUCIANE GARCIA; AMARILLA, ALBERTO ANASTACIO; DE SOUZA, WILLIAM MARCIEL; FUMAGALLI, MARCILIO JORGE; GARCIA DE FIGUEIREDO, MARIO LUIS; JUAN SZABO, MATIAS PABLO; BADRA, SORAYA JABUR; SETOH, YIN XIANG; KHROMYKH, ALEXANDER A.; AQUINO, VICTOR HUGO; et al. Genetic characterization of Cacipacore virus from ticks collected in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY, v. 162, n. 6, p. 1783-1786, JUN 2017. (16/01414-1, 12/08778-8, 12/24150-9)