Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-14-2022
Abstract
Nonhuman primates (NHP) are particularly important for modeling infections with viruses that do not naturally replicate in rodent cells. Zika virus (ZIKV) has been responsible for sporadic epidemics, but in 2015 a disseminated outbreak of ZIKV resulted in the World Health Organization declaring it a global health emergency. Since the advent of this last epidemic, several NHP species, including the baboon, have been utilized for modeling and understanding the complications of ZIKV infection in humans; several health issues related to the outcome of infection have not been resolved yet and require further investigation. This study was designed to validate, in baboons, the molecular signatures that have previously been identified in ZIKV-infected humans and macaque models. We performed a comprehensive molecular analysis of baboons during acute ZIKV infection, including flow cytometry, cytokine, immunological, and transcriptomic analyses. We show here that, similar to most human cases, ZIKV infection of male baboons tends to be subclinical, but is associated with a rapid and transient antiviral interferon-based response signature that induces a detectable humoral and cell-mediated immune response. This immunity against the virus protects animals from challenge with a divergent ZIKV strain, as evidenced by undetectable viremia but clear anamnestic responses. These results provide additional support for the use of baboons as an alternative animal model to macaques and validate omic techniques that could help identify the molecular basis of complications associated with ZIKV infections in humans.
Identifier
85128924078 (Scopus)
DOI
10.3389/fcimb.2022.880860
Publisher
Frontiers Media S.A.
Repository Citation
Mask, E., Hodara, V. L., Callery, J. E., Parodi, L. M., Obregon-Perko, V., Yagi, S., Glenn, J., ... & Giavedoni, L. D. (2022). Molecular approaches for the validation of the baboon as a nonhuman primate model for the study of Zika virus infection. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12, Article 880860. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.880860
Publication Information
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.