Dengue & Zika
Mouse placental tissue showing the proximity of the maternal blood supply (red) and the embryonic blood vessels (green) separated by syncytial trophoblast cells (blue). Nuclei are shown (white)
Dengue and Zika viruses are mosquito-borne flaviviruses that co-circulate in endemic regions.
These viruses cause mild flu-like symptoms in most cases, but can cause severe and potentially life-threatening diseases in some, particularly during secondary dengue infections. The licensed vaccine, Dengvaxia is only approved for use in a limited population, leaving immunologically naïve individuals vulnerable. Zika virus, unique among flaviviruses, is a teratogenic agent that can cause severe birth defects and neurological disorders in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. No licensed vaccine is available for Zika, which remains a global health threat despite the waning of the epidemic since 2018.
A lack of clinically relevant animal models hinders the development of effective vaccines and therapeutics against these viruses. Trudeau’s faculty are investigating the immunogenicity and efficacy of flavivirus countermeasures using genetically modified mouse models and pregnancy models, helping seamless translation from preclinical to clinical advancement of candidate vaccines and therapeutics with promising results. Ongoing research in this area may help to develop effective countermeasures to combat these diseases.