Ex vivo infection of adult human cortical organotypic culture by important neurotropic viruses in public health: Zika, Oropouche and human enterovirus

• Grant number: 17/02018-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Eurico de Arruda Neto
• Grantee: Glaucia Maria de Almeida
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present project aims to establish a model of infection of organotypic culture of human brain with Zika, Oropouche and Coxsackie B3 viruses, seeking a better understanding in its neuropathogenesis. The model of study will consist on the infection of human cortical slices obtained from the processing of tissue removed from patients who underwent temporal lobectomy for removal of hippocampal epileptic focus. Neuropathological changes resulting from infection will be analyzed by histopathology and real time PCR. We hope with the present study to contribute to the knowledge in this area by determining which cellular phenotypes of human cerebral cortical cells are susceptible to these agents, the distribution of viral antigens in relation to the cyto-archicture, confirm viral replication by in situ hybridization with an antigenomic viral specific probe, and the presence of apoptotic phenotype. (AU)