Development of a model of Usutu virus infection in mice: study of disease and testing of a neuroprotective compound

• Grant number: 18/02594-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): November 17, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Elias Marques Pereira Silva
• Grantee: Rebeca de Paiva Froes Rocha
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/20772-4 - Analysis of the polyclonal antibody response elicited after influenza a virus infection and immunization, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Introduction: Usutu virus (USUV) belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus and is responsible for the occurrence of human and veterinary encephalitis throughout Africa-Central Europe continents. Symptomatic USUV infections are characterized by a non-specific febrile illness similar to influenza, while severe manifestations result in neurological symptoms including encephalitis or meningoencephalitis. Guanosine is a neuroprotective compound tha have been used in the treatment of various neuropathologies. We believe that the beneficial properties of guanosine in the treatment of neurological diseases and its immunomodulatory effects may be beneficial in the context of the neurological disease caused by USUV. There are still no treatments or vaccines available against USUV. The study of viral biology and pathogenic potential is needed. Objective: develop an experimental model of infection with USUV in mice to study the disease and to test protective properties of guanosine. Preliminary Results: The proponent already has cell lines and USUV, produced viral stocks and standardized the plate titration technique to measure USUV in varied biological samples. Initial experiments indicate that USUV causes disease and mortality in adult mice in an inoculum-dependent manner. Therefore, these results indicates that the establishment of an animal model for guanosine testing is a viable strategy.

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)

FONTOURA, MARINA ALVES; ROCHA, REBECA FROES; MARQUES, RAFAEL ELIAS. Neutrophil Recruitment and Participation in Severe Diseases Caused by Flavivirus Infection. LIFE-BASEL, v. 11, n. 7, JUL 2021. (18/02594-9, 18/10990-1, 19/20772-4)

DE CARVALHO, ANA CAROLINA; DIAS, CARLOS SATO B.; COIMBRA, LAIS D.; ROCHA, REBECA P. F.; BORIN, ALEXANDRE; FONTOURA, MARINA A.; CARVALHO, MURILO; PROOST, PAUL; NOGUEIRA, MAURICIO L.; CONSONNI, SILVIO R.; et al. Characterization of Systemic Disease Development and Paw Inflammation in a Susceptible Mouse Model of Mayaro Virus Infection and Validation Using X-ray Synchrotron Microtomography. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, v. 24, n. 5, p. 17-pg., 2023-03-01. (18/02594-9, 18/02993-0, 18/03917-6, 18/10990-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ROCHA, Rebeca de Paiva Froes. Usutu virus encephalitis: establishment of a mouse model and characterization of severe disease. 2022. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.