2017
Zika virus causes testicular atrophy
Uraki R, Hwang J, Jurado KA, Householder S, Yockey LJ, Hastings AK, Homer RJ, Iwasaki A, Fikrig E. Zika virus causes testicular atrophy. Science Advances 2017, 3: e1602899. PMID: 28261663, PMCID: PMC5321463, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602899.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZika virusTesticular atrophyAcute viremic phaseZIKV-infected miceMosquito-borne flavivirusTestosterone-producing Leydig cellsProgressive testicular atrophyZIKV persistenceFetal infectionViremic phaseNeonatal abnormalitiesSerum testosteroneZIKV infectionNeurological dysfunctionSubcutaneous injectionZIKV replicationLeydig cellsVirus replicationVertical transmissionEpithelial cellsMiceViral RNAReproductive deficienciesAtrophyMale fertility
2015
Dengue Virus Infection of Aedes aegypti Requires a Putative Cysteine Rich Venom Protein
Londono-Renteria B, Troupin A, Conway MJ, Vesely D, Ledizet M, Roundy CM, Cloherty E, Jameson S, Vanlandingham D, Higgs S, Fikrig E, Colpitts TM. Dengue Virus Infection of Aedes aegypti Requires a Putative Cysteine Rich Venom Protein. PLOS Pathogens 2015, 11: e1005202. PMID: 26491875, PMCID: PMC4619585, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005202.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDENV infectionVirus infectionDengue virusCysteine-rich venom proteinsSpecific antiviral therapyDengue virus infectionMosquito-borne flavivirusAedes aegypti cellsAntiviral therapyFlavivirus infectionMultiple flavivirusesTherapeutic measuresNew treatmentsAedes aegyptiInfectionGene targetsSerious human diseasesAegypti cellsMosquito vectorsVaccineVenom proteinsFlavivirusesHuman diseasesMosquitoesAntiserum inhibits
2008
West Nile Virus Attenuates Activation of Primary Human Macrophages
Kong KF, Wang X, Anderson JF, Fikrig E, Montgomery RR. West Nile Virus Attenuates Activation of Primary Human Macrophages. Viral Immunology 2008, 21: 78-82. PMID: 18355125, PMCID: PMC2666911, DOI: 10.1089/vim.2007.0072.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virusPrimary human macrophagesHuman macrophagesWNV infectionProduction of interleukinMosquito-borne flavivirusType I interferonProinflammatory cytokinesPotent therapyJAK/STAT pathwayIL-1betaEffective treatmentMacrophage activationI interferonRelated flavivirusesInfectionAttenuate activationNile virusMacrophagesSTAT pathwayFlavivirusesActivationDifferential responseInterleukinCytokines