Visualization of chikungunya virus infection in vitro and in vivo. Issue 1 (1st January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Hong-Lei; Dong, Hao-Long; Zhang, Ya-Nan; Xu, Lin-Lin; Deng, Cheng-Lin; Li, Xiao-Feng; Li, Xiao-Dan; Ye, Han-Qing; Yuan, Zhi-Ming; Qin, Cheng-Feng; Zhang, Bo
• Is Part Of: Emerging microbes & infections. Volume 8:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 1574
• Page End: 1583
• Publication Date: 2019-01-01
• Subjects: Chikungunya virus -- iRFP -- reporter virus -- live imaging -- mice; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1682948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2222-1751

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus, has become an important re-emerging pathogen with its rapid spread to many non-endemic areas. The lack of effective vaccines and antiviral agents is largely attributed to the elusive infection and dissemination dynamics in vivo . In this study, we designed and developed a novel, replication-competent, CHIKV reporter virus (CHIKV-iRFP) encoding a near infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP). In vitro and in vivo characterization demonstrated that CHIKV-iRFP retained similar replication and virulence phenotypes to its parental virus. Neonatal BABL/c mice and IFNAR −/− A129 mice were highly susceptible to CHIKV-iRFP infection. Following intracranial (i.c.) inoculation, CHIKV-iRFP efficiently replicated and disseminated into whole body, resulting in rapid death in an age-dependent manner. Remarkably, upon footpad injection, CHIKV-iRFP readily disseminated from footpad to head and whole skeleton, with a specific tropism for bone marrow. Taken together, this novel reporter virus provides a powerful tool to track real time CHIKV replication and to test the in vivo efficacy of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics.