# Role of microglia in neural infection

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · 2024 · $500,574

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is associated with congenital ZIKV syndrome (CZS), including various brain anomalies
and microcephaly. Our recent studies suggested that yolk sac (YS)-derived microglia (primary immune cells in
the brain) and Peli1 (an E3 ubiquitin ligase) are involved in ZIKV infection and its associated CZS. However, it
is unknown whether and how Peli1 contributes to the YS-microglia-mediated spread of ZIKV into brain, whether
viral infection affects the normal function of microglia, and how such effects influence neural differentiation.
Based on preliminary data, we hypothesize that Peli1 plays a critical role in fetal brain ZIKV infection via
promoting YS-microglia-mediated ZIKV dissemination into fetal brain and via altering microglial function to affect
neural differentiation. This hypothesis will be tested by two specific aims: 1) to determine how Peli1 promotes
ZIKV infection of YS-microglia and virus dissemination from microglia to neural stem cells in fetal brains; and 2)
to determine how Peli1 mediates microglial activation and alters neural differentiation after ZIKV infection. This
integrative study employs biochemical and genetic manipulations in both in vivo animal models and in vitro
mouse and human cell platforms. The outcomes will be evaluated by molecular, cellular, and neuroanatomical
analyses. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of microglia in ZIKV-related brain
infection may lead to identification of new targets for prevention and treatment of ZIKV and other virus-mediated
congenital neural infections.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10757033
- **Project number:** 5R01NS125778-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Tian Wang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $500,574
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-01-15 → 2026-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10757033

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10757033, Role of microglia in neural infection (5R01NS125778-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10757033. Licensed CC0.

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