Zika virus infection in pregnant rhesus macaques causes placental dysfunction and immunopathology

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02499-9
• Publication Date: 2018-01-11T20:51:16Z
• Authors: Alec J. Hirsch; Victoria H. J. Ro...; Peta L. Grigsby; Nicole Haese; Matthias C. Schabel; Xiaojie Wang; Jamie O. Lo; Zheng Liu; Christopher D. Kr...; Jessica L. Smith; Meredith Kelleher; Rebecca Broeckel; Craig N. Kreklywich; Christopher J. Pa...; Michael Denton; Patricia Smith; Victor DeFilippis; William Messer; Jay A. Nelson; Jon D. Hennebold; Marjorie Grafe; Lois Colgin; Anne Lewis; Rebecca Ducore; Tonya Swanson; Alfred W. Legasse; Michael K. Axthelm; Rhonda MacAllister; Ashlee V. Moses; Terry K. Morgan; Antonio E. Frias; Daniel N. Streblow
• Keywords: Zika Virus; Intrauterine growth restriction; Fetal membrane

Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy leads to an increased risk of fetal growth restriction and central nervous system malformations, which are outcomes broadly referred as the Congenital Syndrome (CZS). Here we infect pregnant rhesus macaques investigate impact persistent ZIKV on uteroplacental pathology, blood flow, development. Despite seemingly normal fetal-placenta-maternal infection, advanced non-invasive in vivo imaging studies reveal dramatic effects placental oxygen reserve accompanied by significantly decreased permeability villi. The observation abnormal transport within placenta appears be a consequence uterine vasculitis villous damage cases. In addition, demonstrate robust maternal-placental-fetal inflammatory response following infection. This animal model reveals potential relationship between pathology that affect delivery fetus