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Zebrafish as a novel animal model for the study of Zika virus neuropathogenesis in vivo

Project Overview

Infections with Zika virus (ZIKV) constitute a major global public health concern worldwide. Indeed, the recent ZIKV outbreak in the Americas revealed that infection of pregnant women can lead to congenital transmission, infection within the fetal developing brain and eventually to microcephaly in the infant. Most importantly, no antiviral therapies or vaccine against ZIKV are currently available. This unmet medical need is partly due to the fact that very little is known about the molecular mechanisms governing ZIKV pathogenesis.

Addressing these questions is challenging since it requires the use of animal models (such as mice) which are limited in terms of genetic manipulation, developmental studies and number of handled individuals. In that respect, the zebrafish model has emerged as a very powerful animal model to study vertebrate brain development in vivo. Indeed, while its development is very fast, cell population imaging in the whole larva is convenient because of its optical transparency. Moreover, it is easy to genetically manipulate to invalidate genes and to follow the fate of specific cell types during development and thus, to closely evaluate the impact of given proteins, drugs or pathogens on neurodevelopment. Most importantly, introduction of ZIKV into the embryo leads to severe neurodevelopmental defects while ZIKV accumulates in the brain and the spinal cord, hence partly mirroring the symptoms in humans.

This proposal aims at better understanding ZIKV neuropathogenesis in vivo by taking advantage of this novel infection animal model based on zebrafish developed by our laboratory. Dr. Chatel-Chaix will characterize the nervous cell populations impacted by ZIKV infection and study the viral determinants required for neurovirulence. The model may emerge as an easy-to-handle and flexible tool to genetically address host determinants of ZIKV neuropathogenesis and to quickly screen antiviral drug candidates in vivo.

Principal Investigator

Laurent Chatel-Chaix , Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique

Partners and Donors

The Azrieli Foundation

Project Ongoing

Zebrafish as a novel animal model for the study of Zika virus neuropathogenesis in vivo

  • Grant Type

    Capacity building grants

  • Area of research

    Neurodevelopment

  • Disease Area

    Other

  • Competition

    Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research

  • Province

    Québec

  • Start Date

    2020

  • Total Grant Amount

    $100,000

  • Health Canada Contribution

    $50,000

Contact Us

1200 McGill College Avenue
Suite 1600, Montreal, Quebec
H3B 4G7

+1 (514) 989-2989 info@braincanada.ca

Please note all online donations will receive an electronic tax receipt, issued by Brain Canada Foundation.

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Territorial acknowledgement

The offices of Brain Canada Foundation are located on the traditional, ancestral territory of the Kanien'kehá:ka Peoples, a place which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst nations. We honour and pay respect to elders past, present and emerging, and dedicate ourselves to moving forward in the spirit of partnership, collaboration, and reconciliation. In our work, we focus our efforts on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, particularly those that pertain to improving health for Indigenous Peoples and that focus on advancing our own learning on Indigenous issues.

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  • About
    • What We Do
    • EDI Action Plan
    • Leadership
    • Team
    • Annual Report
    • Publications
    • Careers
  • Brain Conditions
    • One Brain
    • ALS
    • Autism (ASD)
    • Brain Cancer
    • Brain Injury
    • Dementia
    • Epilepsy
    • Mental Illness
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Parkinson’s
    • Stroke
    • More
  • Research
    • Programs
    • Funding Opportunities
    • Program Partners
    • Announcements
  • Impact
    • Research Impact Stories
    • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
    • Brain Health in Indigenous Communities
    • Women’s Brain Health
    • Mind Over Matter
  • How You Can Help
    • Ways to Give
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Workplace Giving
    • The Great Minds
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