Correlation of cGAS, STING, INF-α and INF-ß gene expression with Zika virus kinetics in primary culture of microglia and neurons from BALB/c mice.

Pattern recognition receptors participate in the innate immune response. Among PRRs, the cGAS/STING pathway is known to detect cytosolic DNA and cyclic dinucleotides, but it's also important in RNA virus infection. We aimed to evaluate the gene expression of some important genes of cGAS/STING pathway and to correlate this expression with Zika virus kinetics in mice microglia and neurons. Cells were infected by MOI = 1.0. Indirect immunofluorescence, plaque titration of supernatant, extraction, and quantification of total intracellular RNA, RT-qPCR and Western blotting were performed. Plaque titration profile in microglia and neurons was similar, including higher titers of plaque forming units at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hpi, respectively. ZIKV kinetics evaluated by RT-qPCR was similar in both cells, with highest viral titers at 48, 72, 24 and 96 hpi, respectively. Expression profile of cGAS, STING, INF-α and INF-ß was quite different between the cells, including gene suppression, as observed for cGAS in neurons. Our results showed a differentiated expression profile of cGAS/STING pathway genes in mice microglia and neurons, which can be explained by the different mechanisms that ZIKV uses to bypass the immune response of these cells. Furthermore, each cell type responds differently to combat the viral infection.

Nearly complete genome sequence of curionopolis virus, a culicoides-related rhabdovirus isolated in the brazilian Amazon region.

We report here the first nearly complete genome sequence related to curionopolis virus (CURV), that of strain AR440009, isolated from a pool of Culicoides sp. midges in Serra Norte, Pará State, northern Brazil. All genes showed similarities to those belonging to members of the family Rhabdoviridae.

Xiburema Virus, a Hitherto Undescribed Virus within the Family Rhabdoviridae Isolated in the Brazilian Amazon Region.

We report here the first complete open reading frame (ORF) genome sequence of Xiburema virus (XIBV), that of strain BE AR362159, isolated from mosquitoes (Sabethes intermedius) in Sena Madureira, Acre state, northern Brazil. All genes showed similarities with those belonging to members of the family Rhabdoviridae.