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Comparative Histopathologic Lesions of the Male Reproductive Tract during Acute Infection of Zika Virus in AG129 and Ifnar-/- Mice.

ABSTRACT: An understanding of the pathogenesis of infection with the Zika virus in the male reproductive tract is vital for the development of vaccines and antivirals that will limit or prevent sexual transmission. Two common immunocompromised mouse strains used in transmission studies-male with genes encoding interferon types I and II receptor gene knockout (IFNAR/IFNGR; AG129) and with interferon type 1 receptor knockout (Ifnar-/-) were infected with a Puerto Rican Zika virus isolate (PRVABC59), and pathology was assessed 5 to 11 days after infection. Virus was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR in the testicle and epididymis of AG129 and Ifnar-/- mice, and by immunohistochemistry in the prostate and seminal vesicle of infected AG129 mice. Severe disease manifestations initiating as epididymitis and progressing to orchitis were observed in both models, with more severe inflammation noted in the AG129 mouse strain. Significant inflammation was not observed in any evaluated accessory sex gland at any point during infection. Time-course analysis of infection revealed an increase in the severity of disease within the epididymis of both strains, indicating a potential route of sexual transmission. Male mice with Ifnar-/- may better recapitulate Zika virus in humans and provide insight into the mechanism of sexual transmission, due to milder histopathologic lesions, the presence of histologically normal sperm in epididymal tubules, and an ability to survive the acute phase of disease.

SUBMITTER: Clancy CS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5955007 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Comparative Histopathologic Lesions of the Male Reproductive Tract during Acute Infection of Zika Virus in AG129 and Ifnar<sup>-/-</sup> Mice.

Clancy Chad S CS Van Wettere Arnaud J AJ Siddharthan Venkatraman V Morrey John D JD Julander Justin G JG

The American journal of pathology 20180131 4

An understanding of the pathogenesis of infection with the Zika virus in the male reproductive tract is vital for the development of vaccines and antivirals that will limit or prevent sexual transmission. Two common immunocompromised mouse strains used in transmission studies-male with genes encoding interferon types I and II receptor gene knockout (IFNAR/IFNGR; AG129) and with interferon type 1 receptor knockout (Ifnar<sup>-/-</sup>) were infected with a Puerto Rican Zika virus isolate (PRVABC5 ...[more]

PMID: 29378173

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Project description:BackgroundZika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is a re-emerging virus that constitutes a public health threat due to its recent global spread, recurrent outbreaks, and infections that are associated with neurological abnormalities in developing fetuses and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. To date, there are no approved vaccines against ZIKV infection. Various preclinical and clinical development programs are currently ongoing in an effort to bring forward a vaccine for ZIKV.Methodology/principle findingsWe have developed a ZIKV vaccine candidate based on Virus-Like-Particles (VLPs) produced in HEK293 mammalian cells using the prM (a precursor to M protein) and envelope (E) structural protein genes from ZIKV. Transient transfection of cells via plasmid and electroporation produced VLPs which were subsequently purified by column chromatography yielding approximately 2mg/L. Initially, immunogenicity and efficacy were evaluated in AG129 mice using a dose titration of VLP with and without Alhydrogel 2% (alum) adjuvant. We found that VLP with and without alum elicited ZIKV-specific serum neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and that titers correlated with protection. A follow-up immunogenicity and efficacy study in rhesus macaques was performed using VLP formulated with alum. Multiple neutralization assay methods were performed on immune sera including a plaque reduction neutralization test, a microneutralization assay, and a Zika virus Renilla luciferase neutralization assay. All of these assays indicate that following immunization, VLP induces high titer nAbs which correlate with protection against ZIKV challenge.Conclusions/significanceThese studies confirm that ZIKV VLPs could be efficiently generated and purified. Upon VLP immunization, in both mice and NHPs, nAb was induced that correlate with protection against ZIKV challenge. These studies support translational efforts in developing a ZIKV VLP vaccine for evaluation in human clinical trials.

Dataset Information

Comparative Histopathologic Lesions of the Male Reproductive Tract during Acute Infection of Zika Virus in AG129 and Ifnar-/- Mice.

Publications

Comparative Histopathologic Lesions of the Male Reproductive Tract during Acute Infection of Zika Virus in AG129 and Ifnar<sup>-/-</sup> Mice.

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