Productive Infection of Mouse Mammary Glands and Human Mammary Epithelial Cells by Zika Virus.

ABSTRACT: Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to the large category of arboviruses. Surprisingly, several human-to-human transmissions of ZIKV have been notified, either following sexual intercourse or from the mother to fetus during pregnancy. Importantly, high viral loads have been detected in the human breast milk of infected mothers, and the existence of breastfeeding as a new mode of mother-to-child transmission of ZIKV was recently hypothesized. However, the maternal origin of infectious particles in breast milk is currently unknown. Here, we show that ZIKV disseminates to the mammary glands of infected mice after both systemic and local exposure with differential kinetics. Ex vivo, we demonstrate that primary human mammary epithelial cells were sensitive and permissive to ZIKV infection in this study.

SUBMITTER: Hubert M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6832565 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature