Carolina V Messias1,2, Julia P Lemos1,2, Daniela P Cunha3, Zilton Vasconcelos3, Lidiane M S Raphael4, Myrna C Bonaldo4, Bruno Cister-Alves1,2, Dumith Chequer Bou-Habib1,2, Vinicius Cotta-de-Almeida1,2, Wilson Savino1,2, Daniella A Mendes-da-Cruz5,6. 1. Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ave. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil. 2. National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 3. High complexity Laboratory, Fernandes Figueira National Institute of Health in Mother, Infant and Adolescent, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 4. Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Flavivirus, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 5. Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ave. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil. daniareas@yahoo.com.br. 6. National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. daniareas@yahoo.com.br.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection gained public health concern after the 2015 outbreak in Brazil, when microcephaly rates increased in babies born from infected mothers. It was demonstrated that ZIKV causes a congenital Zika virus syndrome, including various alterations in the development of the central nervous system. Although the infection of cells from the nervous system has been well documented, less is known in respect of ZIKV ability to infect immune cells. Herein, we investigated if peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), freshly-isolated from healthy donors, could be infected by ZIKV. METHODS: PBMCs from healthy donors were isolated and cultured in medium with ZIKV strain Rio-U1 (MOI = 0.1). Infection was analyzed by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry. RESULTS: We detected the ZIKV RNA in PBMCs from all donors by RT-qPCR analysis. The detection of viral antigens by flow cytometry revealed that PBMC from more than 50% the donors were infected by ZIKV, with CD3+CD4+ T cells, CD3-CD19+ B cells and CD3+CD8+ T cells being, respectively, the most frequently infected subpopulations, followed by CD14+ monocytes. Additionally, we observed high variability in PBMC infection rates among different donors, either by numbers or type infected cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings raise the hypothesis that PBMCs can act as a reservoir of the virus, which may facilitate viral dissemination to different organs, including immune-privileged sites.
BACKGROUND:Zika virus (ZIKV) infection gained public health concern after the 2015 outbreak in Brazil, when microcephaly rates increased in babies born from infected mothers. It was demonstrated that ZIKV causes a congenital Zika virus syndrome, including various alterations in the development of the central nervous system. Although the infection of cells from the nervous system has been well documented, less is known in respect of ZIKV ability to infect immune cells. Herein, we investigated if peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), freshly-isolated from healthy donors, could be infected by ZIKV. METHODS: PBMCs from healthy donors were isolated and cultured in medium with ZIKV strain Rio-U1 (MOI = 0.1). Infection was analyzed by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry. RESULTS: We detected the ZIKV RNA in PBMCs from all donors by RT-qPCR analysis. The detection of viral antigens by flow cytometry revealed that PBMC from more than 50% the donors were infected by ZIKV, with CD3+CD4+ T cells, CD3-CD19+ B cells and CD3+CD8+ T cells being, respectively, the most frequently infected subpopulations, followed by CD14+ monocytes. Additionally, we observed high variability in PBMC infection rates among different donors, either by numbers or type infected cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings raise the hypothesis that PBMCs can act as a reservoir of the virus, which may facilitate viral dissemination to different organs, including immune-privileged sites.
Authors: Carolina V Messias; Guilherme Loss-Morais; Joseane Biso de Carvalho; Mariela N González; Daniela P Cunha; Zilton Vasconcelos; Luis W P Arge; Désio A Farias-de-Oliveira; Alexandra L Gerber; Elyzabeth A Portari; Nilma Ferreira; Lidiane M S Raphael; Myrna C Bonaldo; Ingo Riederer; Maria E Lopes Moreira; Vinicius Cotta-de-Almeida; Ana T R Vasconcelos; Daniella A Mendes-da-Cruz; Wilson Savino Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2020-01-28 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Iasmim Silva de Mello; Déberli Ruiz Fernandes; Nathália Dias Furtado; Alexandre Araújo Cunha Dos Santos; Marta Pereira Dos Santos; Ieda Pereira Ribeiro; Lidiane Menezes Souza Raphael; Mônica da Silva Nogueira; Stephanie Oliveira Diaz da Cruz; Adalgiza da Silva Rocha; Pedro Paulo de Abreu Manso; Marcelo Pelajo-Machado; Myrna Cristina Bonaldo Journal: Front Microbiol Date: 2021-02-24 Impact factor: 5.640
Authors: Jeremia M Coish; Robert W E Crozier; John S Schieffelin; Jens R Coorssen; Fiona F Hunter; Adam J MacNeil Journal: Microbiol Spectr Date: 2022-07-05