| Grant number: | 16/05570-8 |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| Start date: | August 01, 2016 |
| End date: | November 30, 2021 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology |
| Principal Investigator: | Luis Carlos de Souza Ferreira |
| Grantee: | Lennon Ramos Pereira |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 19/18205-4 - Identification and characterization of peptides capable to interfere with the infection mechanisms of dengue and zika viruses, BE.EP.DR |
Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to Flaviviridae family and the genus flavivirus, like other emerging viruses such as dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YFV), transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes. The ZIKV infection is acute and self-limiting, however, severe manifestations such as Guillain-barrée syndrome and the possibility of development of microcephaly in infants emphasize the importance of this arbovirus. There are no effective treatments or vaccines available to the population as well as specific serodiagnosis methods for this infection. In this sense, the search for antigens which have low homology with other flavivirus allow the development of specific serologic tests, and are potential vaccine antigens. Therefore, this project aims to obtain recombinant forms of part of envelope protein (E) and non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of ZIKV which have low homology with other flaviviruses. Once obtained, the proteins will be used for development of specific serologic tests and vaccine formulations capable of eliciting protective immunity against the virus. To this end, domain III of the E protein, and a fragment of NS1 protein (Delta-NS1) of ZIKV will be expressed in a prokaryotic system and purified by affinity chromatography technique. The recombinant antigens will be used to standardize serodiagnosis assays (ELISA, Western blot and immunofluorescence) discriminatory for ZIKV being used specific hyperimmune sera to other Flavivirus (including YFV and DENV), as well, cross-reactivity controls. The EDIII and NS1 ZIKA antigens also will be assessed for their vaccine potential, which will be use in the composition of formulations to be tested in mice model and evaluate the intensity and functionality of the immune responses, as well as the protective potential in a challenge assay. Thus, the knowledge generated from this work will contribute to the development of different methods of specific serodiagnosis and effective vaccine strategies against ZIKV. (AU) | |
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