The role of innate recognition pathways and type I and III interferons in the rupture of the placental barrier after OROV infection

• Grant number: 18/13645-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2018
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal researcher: José Luiz Proença Módena
• Grantee: Stefanie Primon Muraro
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/10615-9 - The role of innate recognition pathways and type I and III interferons for maintenance of the blood-placental barrier after Oropouche virus infection, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The Oropouche Virus (OROV) is an arbovirus with potential to cause epidemics in the most populated regions of Brazil. Individuals infected with OROV develop a febrile illness, which can progress to neurological and hemorrhagic complications. Furthermore, an increased incidence of abortion was reported during major OROV epidemics. However, the teratogenic potential of OROV and the pathogenetic mechanisms associated with the hematoplacental barrier breakdown have not yet been investigated. Thus, in partnership with Prof. Eurico Arruda of FMRP-USP, who has studied the teratogenic potential of OROV, and Prof. Jean Pierre Peron of ICB-USP, who demonstrated the teratogenic potential of ZIKV, this project aims to characterize the role of pathways of recognition of the innate immune system and the production of interferon (I and III) in the breakdown of the hematoplacental barrier by OROV. For this, we will infect SJL, Ifnar-/-, Il28r-/-, Myd88-/-, Trif-/- and MAVs-/- mice, explants of placentas and cell lines of trophoblasts and Hofbauer, to characterize by molecular and metabolomic analyzes, which signaling pathways are activated after infection with OROV. The placentas will be donated by Prof. Maria Laura do Nascimento, from CAISM-UNICAMP, and the metabolomics analyzes will be performed in collaboration with Prof. Rodrigo Catharino, from FCF-UNICAMP. (AU)