Clinical features and molecular mechanisms of arbovirus-induced neuroinflammation and neurovascular damage – ArboNeuro

Many arboviruses cause neurological damage, including viruses of the genus Flavivirus, such as Zika virus and in some cases Dengue virus. Clinical symptomatology, blood and brain biomarkers, as well as mechanisms underlying their neurovirulence and associated neuronal pathologies, are only partially characterized. In this study, thanks to the national CARBO cohort and animal and cellular models, we will characterize neurovascular damage and markers of brain stress in patients, as well as the mechanisms of virus access to the nervous system via the blood brain barrier. In parallel, we will study the associated cellular responses, including the role of immune cells and the inflammatory response and its role in neuropathology. This project will provide a better understanding of the neurovirulence of certain flaviviruses and the identification of biomarkers and key molecules regulating the infection, potentially therapeutic targets.