Imunnogenetic basis of susceptibility to Zika Virus infection in humans

• Grant number: 18/09407-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2018
• End date: May 09, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Immunogenetics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Condino Neto
• Grantee: Lucila Akune Barreiros
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/22158-3 - Molecular genetic mechanisms of primary immunodeficiencies, AP.TEM

Abstract

The Zika Virus is a neurotropic flavivirus that has recently emerged in the Americas and has become an international public health problem. The increase in the prevalence of ZIKV infections in Brazil coincided with an increase in the occurrence of Microcephaly cases and other neurological complications in neonates caused by fetal neuronal lesions, coining the Zika Congenital Syndrome. The emergence of new neurological manifestations prompted the World Health Organization to declare in early 2016 the Zika Virus as a public health emergency of international concern. Despite the severity and visibility of certain cases, it is believed that only 20% of those infected display any symptoms of the disease. In addition, in those who manifest the disease, the clinical spectrum of symptoms is very broad, ranging from fever to the development of irreversible neurological lesions. This suggests that the host's genetic can influence the course of the infection. Despite the scientific community enormous efforts to characterize the pathogenetic mechanisms of ZIKV, little is known about innate errors in components of the host immune system that may lead to susceptibility to the virus. Therefore, the present proposal aims to investigate the genetic mechanisms of susceptibility to ZIKV infection in humans, focusing on the antiviral immune response, centered on type I interferon signaling pathway. (AU)

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)

BARREIROS, LUCILA AKUNE; SOUSA, JUSLEY LIRA; GEIER, CHRISTOPH; LEISS-PILLER, ALEXANDER; PYLLES PATTO KANEGAE, MARILIA; FRANCA, TABATA TAKAHASHI; BOISSON, BERTRAND; LIMA, ALESSANDRA MIRAMONTES; TAVARES COSTA-CARVALHO, BEATRIZ; ARANDA, CAROLINA SANCHEZ; et al. SCID and Other Inborn Errors of Immunity with Low TRECs - the Brazilian Experience. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 22-pg., 2022-05-03. (18/09407-0, 16/22158-3)

FRANCA, TABATA T.; BARREIROS, LUCILA A.; AL-RAMADI, BASEL K.; OCHS, HANS D.; CABRAL-MARQUES, OTAVIO; CONDINO-NETO, ANTONIO. CD40 ligand deficiency: treatment strategies and novel therapeutic perspectives. EXPERT REVIEW OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, v. 15, n. 5, p. 529-540, MAY 4 2019. (16/22158-3, 17/04187-9, 18/09407-0)

Academic Publications

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

BARREIROS, Lucila Akune. Genetic and immunologic factors related to Congenital Zika Syndrome in humans. 2023. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.