Zika virus is an orthoflavivirus mainly transmitted by Aedes mosquito bites, but also through sexual and vertical transmission. Infection during pregnancy can lead to severe neurological defects in the newborn. Zika virus strains are classified into two major genotypes: African and Asian. Although epidemics and neurological defects observed in newborns are epidemiologically linked to Asian genotypes, recent studies have shown that newly isolated African strains are more transmissible in mosquitoes and more pathogenic in mouse models.
The goal of our study is to decipher Zika viral protein interactions in human cells and in the mosquito midgut in the context of infection. We also aim to sequence the viral stocks we will be working with, as this is pivotal for our study.
