Characterization of the role of B lymphocytes in controlling Mayaro virus infection: infection model in uMT mice

• Grant number: 24/13754-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: José Luiz Proença Módena
• Grantee: Paula Mendes Lavagnini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Emerging viruses are a major public health problem, as they can have a major impact on an unimmunized population. The urban sprawl of cities and human encroachment into forest areas have contributed to expanding the life cycle of arthropod-borne viruses in peri-urban and urban environments. The mayaro virus is transmitted to mammals by the bite of the Haemagogus janthinomys hematophagous mosquito in its wild cycle, but there is laboratory evidence that it can be transmitted by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus in urban environments. This virus is responsible for causing an acute febrile illness in humans with symptoms of arthritis, arthralgia, and myalgia which, in some cases, can become chronic, causing sequelae. It is therefore extremely important to understand and elucidate the pathogenesis of this virus. The cells of the immune system are essential for fighting against this pathogen, and adaptive immunity plays an essential role in this defense. An example of this is the B lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies specific to the virus, which in turn act by neutralizing and opsonizing the viral particles, as well as activating one of the pathways of the complement system. Given above, this study aims to understand the B-lymphocyte response regarding the role of immunoglobulins in controlling Mayaro virus infection in a murine model. To this purpose, we will analyze mortality, morbidity, viral tropism and inflammatory response through histological slides in ¼MT knockout mice, which lack mature B cells, as well as wild-type (WT) mice after being infected by Mayaro .