The role of gut microbiota in susceptibility to experimental infection with St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV)

• Grant number: 22/01379-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Elias Marques Pereira Silva
• Grantee: Jaqueline de Souza Felipe
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), belonging to the Flavivirus genus, of the Flaviviridae family, is an arbovirus transmitted by mosquitoes of the Culex genus. The infection can cause a severe neurological disease with a high mortality rate, characterized for meningoence. The interference response I is known to decrease viral-like replication in SLEV infection, however, the contribution of the immune response of others is unknown. The gut microbiota has immunomodulatory functions that have already been studied in the context of arboviral infections. Thus, it is hypothesized that gut microbiota depletion may alter susceptibility to experimental St. Louis encephalitis. The purpose of this project is evaluate the role of intestinal disease in the development of the disease from by SLEV. For this purpose, we will use C57BL/6 mice treated with a cocktail of antibiotics and a control group without treatment, both infected with SLEV, where we will investigate whether there is a change in the phenotype development of the disease, including mortality rates, viral load, damage to organs and parameters associated with the disease. Preliminary results showed that animals infected and treated with antibiotics were more susceptible to infection, with higher mortality rates compared to infected and untreated animals. Thus, we hope to confirm that the intestinal microbiota plays a relevant role in the immune response to viral infections, in this case, St. Louis encephalitis. Understanding the effects of microbiota depletion on experimental St. Louis encephalitis may bring to light unknown aspects of viral biology and the development of arboviral disease in the central nervous system.