Grant: Project Grant

Zika virus (ZV) is an emerging pathogen that is transmitted by mosquitoes. Until recently, circulation of this virus was limited to Africa and Asia. However, in 2015, a large ZV outbreak occurred in Brazil followed by rapid spreading throughout South and Central America reaching Mexico by years end. Infections can be subclinical but often flu-like symptoms, conjunctivitis, arthralgia and neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome) can also occur. In addition, the virus may cross the placenta to infect the brains of fetuses resulting in severe neurological damage, microcephaly and death. Indeed, during the ZV outbreak in Brazil, a 2700% increase in cases of microcephaly was observed. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control is advising pregnant women not travel to 22 Latin American countries including Brazil. With millions of new ZV infections and thousands of babies being born with microcephaly, there is an urgent need for effective therapeutics and vaccines. As outbreaks were relatively rare until recently, research on ZV has been limited and no molecular tools or animal models exist to study this virus. We will develop the necessary reagents and models to study ZV. In turn, these tools will be used to screen for and design therapeutic molecules that block transmission of the virus.