# Genetic evolution, pathogenesis and immune responses in mother to child transmission of ZIKV

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $747,874

## Abstract

Abstract/Summary
Our group of investigators has been collaborating over the last two years to describe the clinical aspects and
pathogenesis of in utero transmission of ZIKA virus (ZIKV) infection. We have embarked in a strong
collaborative effort to document and understand the pathogenesis of ZIKV. We have available to us a unique
prospective cohort of well characterized ZIKV-infected mother-infant pairs who have been followed since the
antenatal period, with infants now between 12 to 24 months of age and specimens collected over time. We
propose to characterize ZIKV humoral immune responses over time in our cohort of mother-infant pairs who
became infected during the Rio de Janeiro 2015/16 epidemic, in order to determine the timing of development
of immune responses to ZIKV in perinatally infected infants, and possible correlation with intermittent viral
shedding. We plan to evaluate whether infant immune responses are associated with the breadth and potency
of maternal immunologic responses to ZIKV over time. To do so we will measure neutralizing antibody activity
in 100 mother-infant pairs over 3 years and explore potential associations with annual infant
neurodevelopmental assessments and timing of infection in gestation. We will also investigate genetic viral
evolution in their ZIKV isolates and are presently sequencing whole ZIKV genome from mother-infant pairs
from the same cohort who had adverse pregnancy outcomes, normal pregnancy outcomes, recurrent or
relapsing infections, while also checking whether there is variability in viral sequences by compartment (CSF,
blood, urine, placenta). We are also evaluating specific ZIKV-immune responses at the cellular and molecular
levels and determining mechanisms by which the virus evades host immune responses during pregnancy. Our
findings will answer important questions pertaining to the mechanisms of immune pathogenesis and intrinsic
virologic factors associated with ZIKV mother-to-child transmission which may be predictive of longer term
infant outcomes. Our well characterized population of mother-infant pairs with detailed clinical follow-up and
specimens collected over time allows us to perform state of the art translational studies to elucidate
mechanisms of viral pathogenesis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10135003
- **Project number:** 5R01AI140718-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** GENHONG CHENG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $747,874
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-02 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10135003

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10135003, Genetic evolution, pathogenesis and immune responses in mother to child transmission of ZIKV (5R01AI140718-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10135003. Licensed CC0.

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