Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to the Flaviviridae family. However, compared to most members of this Family and Genus (e.g., Dengue virus) ZIKV is an atypical virus. Also, unlike all other arboviruses (arthropod-borne-virus) it can be transmitted not only by mosquitoes but by sexual and vertical transmission. Unlike all other closely related viruses, infection during pregnancy can cause serious congenital syndromes in the fetus. Furthermore, there is evidence that years after infection an adult can present cognitive and learning disabilities associated with ZIKV. This brief description of the consequences of ZIKV infection highlight the importance of studying the neurovirulence of this virus during neural development.

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There are multiple ways to study the neurovirulence of ZIKV. We have decided to join efforts with Prof. Claudia G. Castillo-Martin del Campo to develop a research program that aims at understanding the biochemical, neurochemical, functional, and structural consequences of ZIKV infection in neural cells.

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Also, we are interested in understanding the mutation in the non-structural protein that helped ZIKV to spread in the Americas faster than in Asia. In particular, we are focusing on the immune response of macrophages derived from patients to ZIKV with different mutations in non-structural proteins.