Impact of Prior ZIKV Infection on Immune and Transcriptomic Responses to DENV-1 and DENV-2 Infection: An Ex Vivo and In Vivo Approach

• Grant number: 24/22588-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 31, 2025
• End date: January 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Maurício Lacerda Nogueira
• Grantee: Bruno Henrique Gonçalves de Aguiar Milhim
• Supervisor: Nikos Vasilakis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/12576-3 - Impact of previous exposure to Zika virus on acute dengue infection: Epidemiological, clinical, immunological and virological aspects., BP.DR

Abstract

Arboviruses are relevant diseases with collective and individual impact worldwide. In the last years, it has been highlighted the dengue and Zika spread in intertropical areas. This study aims to investigate the immune modulation and transcriptional changes in immune cells, specifically T cells, in the context of a prior ZIKV infection during subsequent DENV infection. Using a combination of ex vivo studies NHP peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in vivo murine models, this research will focus on the transcriptomic profiling of T cells using Single Cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify differential gene expression, immune response pathways, and functional changes in T cell subpopulations. Additionally, cytokine profiles will be assessed to characterize the inflammatory response induced by DENV-1 and DENV-2 in PBMCs previously exposed to ZIKV. The findings from this study will provide a deeper understanding of the immunological interplay between ZIKV and DENV, offering insights into how prior exposure to ZIKV may alter the immune response during acute DENV infection.