# Neuropathogenesis of Rift Valley fever virus

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $583,047

## Abstract

Neuropathogenesis of Rift Valley fever virus
Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) infection causes a spectrum of disease including self-limiting febrile illness,
hepatitis, and late onset encephalitis. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement results in significant morbidity
and mortality and there are no human vaccines or therapeutics in place. Understanding how RVFV disseminates
from the site of a mosquito bite in the skin to the CNS is essential knowledge necessary to identify means to
prevent or treat this manifestation. Neurotropic viruses have evolved many different mechanisms to access the
CNS. These include infection of the brain microvascular endothelial cells (for transcytosis or by causing direct
damage), directly traversing the paracellular junctions of the blood brain barrier (BBB), trafficking into the brain
within a mobile immune cell, infection of a peripheral nerve and retrograde travel, or via inducing inflammation
that loosens endothelial tight junctions and opens the BBB.
Therefore, to answer the foundational question of how RVFV disseminates to the CNS following a peripheral
exposure, we turn to novel rodent CNS infection models developed in our labs. Key to these models of RVFV
neuropathogenesis is the exposure of the mouse to the virus via foot-pad injection to mimic a mosquito bite.
In this proposal we will directly address the gaps in our knowledge of how RVFV disseminates, through a series
of in vitro and in vivo experiments we will establish the route and mechanisms of invasion of the CNS by RVFV.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10912968
- **Project number:** 1R01AI183792-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Anita K McElroy
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $583,047
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-19 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10912968

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10912968, Neuropathogenesis of Rift Valley fever virus (1R01AI183792-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10912968. Licensed CC0.

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