Chikungunya virus infection results in higher and persistent viral replication in aged Rhesus macaques due to defects in anti-viral immunity

Messaoudi I, Vomaske J, Totonchy T, Kreklywich CN, Haberthur K, et al.

 PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013; 7(7): e2343.

Speaker: Andy D. Y. Hu (胡敦堯)                                 Time: 14:00~15:00, Jan. 8, 2014

Commentator: Dr. Chiou-Feng Lin(林秋烽 博士)          Place: Room 601

Abstract:

    Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne Alphavirus that causes clinical symptoms involving fever, myalgia, nausea and rash. CHIKV was first isolated in the 1950’s [1] and re-emerged in 2004, when CHIKV spread from the Indian Ocean to Europe and elsewhere in the world including Japan and United States [2]. CHIKV re-emergence is now associated with new clinical complications including sever morbidity and mortality in aged individuals and adults with underlying immunological conditions [3]. To understand whether functional immune system may be important to control infection and promote recovery, adult and aged Rhesus macaques were infected with strains CHIKV-LR(recent outbreak strain La Re´union) and CHIKV-37997(West African strain). The results showed that Rhesus macaques became viremic between 1-5 days post infection regardless of the strains infected. While adult animals were able to control the virus infection, aged animals were still susceptible CHIKV persistence. Both virus-specific T cell and B cell responses in aged animals were reduced or delayed when compared to adult animals. In summary, the data indicated that strain CHIKV-LR replicated to higher levels compared to strain CHIKV-37997 regardless of age. Taken together, these results suggest that the reduced immune responses in the aged animals promote long-term virus persistence in CHIKV-LR infected Rhesus monkeys.

 Reference

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