The recent spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its association with increased rates of Guillain Barre and other neurological disorders as well as congenital defects that include microcephaly has created an urgent need to develop animal models to examine the pathogenesis of the disease and explore the efficacy of potential therapeutics and vaccines. Recently developed infection models for ZIKV utilize mice defective in interferon responses. In this study we establish and characterize a new model of peripheral ZIKV infection using immunocompetent neonatal C57BL/6 mice and compare its clinical progression, virus distribution, immune response, and neuropathology with that of C57BL/6-IFNAR KO mice. We show that while ZIKV infected IFNAR KO mice develop bilateral hind limb paralysis and die 5–6 days post-infection (dpi), immunocompetent B6 WT mice develop signs of neurological disease including unsteady gait, kinetic tremors, severe ataxia and seizures by 13 dpi that subside gradually over 2 weeks. Immunohistochemistry show viral antigen predominantly in cerebellum at the peak of the disease in both models. However, whereas IFNAR KO mice showed infiltration by neutrophils and macrophages and higher expression of IL-1, IL-6 and Cox2, B6 WT mice show a cellular infiltration in the CNS composed predominantly of T cells, particularly CD8+ T cells, and increased mRNA expression levels of IFNg, GzmB and Prf1 at peak of disease. Lastly, the CNS of B6 WT mice shows evidence of neurodegeneration predominantly in the cerebellum that are less prominent in mice lacking the IFN response possibly due to the difference in cellular infiltrates and rapid progression of the disease in that model. The development of the B6 WT model of ZIKV infection will provide insight into the immunopathology of the virus and facilitate assessments of possible therapeutics and vaccines.

Neurotropic coronavirus infection induces expression of both beta interferon (IFN-␤

Dimerization of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) heterodimers is critical for both MyD88-and TIRdomain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-mediated signaling pathways. Recently, Zanoni et al. [(2011) Cell 147(4):868-880] reported that cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) is required for LPS-/Escherichia coli-induced TLR4 internalization into endosomes and activation of TRIF-mediated signaling in macrophages. We confirmed their findings with LPS but report here that CD14 is not required for receptor endocytosis and downstream signaling mediated by TLR4/MD2 agonistic antibody (UT12) and synthetic small-molecule TLR4 ligands (1Z105) in murine macrophages. CD14 deficiency completely ablated the LPS-induced TBK1/IRF3 signaling axis that mediates production of IFN-β in murine macrophages without affecting MyD88-mediated signaling, including NF-κB, MAPK activation, and TNF-α and IL-6 production. However, neither the MyD88-nor TRIF-signaling pathways and their associated cytokine profiles were altered in the absence of CD14 in UT12-or 1Z105-treated murine macrophages. Eritoran (E5564), a lipid A antagonist that binds the MD2 "pocket," completely blocked LPS-and 1Z105-driven, but not UT12-induced, TLR4 dimerization and endocytosis. Furthermore, TLR4 endocytosis is induced in macrophages tolerized by exposure to either LPS or UT12 and is independent of CD14. These data indicate that TLR4 receptor endocytosis and the TRIF-signaling pathway are dissociable and that TLR4 internalization in macrophages can be induced by UT12, 1Z105, and during endotoxin tolerance in the absence of CD14. T oll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling plays a crucial role in host defense against Gram-negative bacteria by recognizing the outer membrane component, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1-3). TLR4 signaling is initiated by transfer of an LPS monomer from LPS binding protein (LBP) to cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) (GPI-linked or soluble). In turn, CD14 transfers monomeric LPS to myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2), a protein that associates noncovalently with TLR4 (4). Appropriate ligand binding to MD2 results in dimerization of two TLR4/MD2 complexes (4). TLR4 is unique in that it is the only TLR that activates both myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-dependent signaling pathways (5, 6). MyD88-mediated, TLR4 signaling occurs mainly at plasma membranes and involves IL-1R-associated kinases phosphorylation, association of TNF-receptor-associated factor 6, and downstream signaling that results in NF-κB activation and induction of proinflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-6 (7). In contrast, TRIF-mediated signaling in response to LPS occurs at the endosomal membrane after internalization of the TLR4 that, in turn, activates IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), resulting in production of IFN-β, IP-10, and other IRF-3-dependent genes, as well as delayed NF-κB activation (8). Recent studies have shown that the endocytosis of TLR4 is tight...

Zika-infected patients can have eye involvement ranging from mild conjunctivitis to severe chorioretinal lesions, however the possible long-term sequelae of infection and timeline to recovery remain unknown. Here we describe the partial recovery of chorioretinal lesions in an immunocompetent patient diagnosed with bilateral posterior uveitis associated with Zika infection and show that some lesions resolved with focal atrophy evident as pigmentary changes on funduscopy. To better understand the progression of the lesions and correlate the changes in fundus imaging with local viral load, immune responses, and retinal damage, we developed a symptomatic mouse model of ocular Zika virus infection. Imaging of the fundus revealed multiple hypopigmentary patches indicative of chorioretinal degeneration as well as thinning of the retina that mirror the lesions in patients. Microscopically, the virus primarily infected the optic nerve, retinal ganglion cells, and inner nuclear layer cells, showing thinning of the outer plexiform layer. During acute infection, the eyes showed retinal layer disorganization, retinitis, vitritis, and focal choroiditis, with mild cellular infiltration and increased expression of tumor necrosis factor, interferon-γ, granzyme B, and perforin. Focal areas of gliosis and retinal degeneration persisted 60 dpi. The model recapitulates features of ZIKA infections in patients and should help elucidate the mechanisms underlying the damage to the eyes and aid in the development of effective therapeutics.