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Project

Unraveling the susceptibility and pathogenesis of viral infections using zebrafish

Knowledge on the biology and pathogenesis of human viruses has long been hindered by the lack of robust and physiologically relevant culture systems and small animal models. Our team has recently established a robust human norovirus replication model in zebrafish (Danio rerio), a small optically transparent animal, suitable for live imaging and whole-organism pathology. Although noroviruses are the most common cause of foodborne illness and have a societal cost of $60 billion and 219 000 deaths/ year, culturing this virus has been a ˃ 40 year-long challenge which can now be overcome. Likewise, the infection of zebrafish with other enteric, respiratory or arthropod-borne emerging viruses is possible and can constitute a big jump forward in understanding and counteracting the disease caused by these viruses. We here intend (i) to further study norovirus susceptibility and pathogenesis in infected zebrafish, and (ii) to establish novel zebrafish models for a collection of clinically relevant human viruses.
Date:1 Oct 2018 →  30 Sep 2022
Keywords:Zebrafish (Danio rerio), Human norovirus, Virus replication, Susceptibility to infection, Viral pathogenesis, Enteric viruses, Arthropod-borne viruses, zebrafish
Disciplines:Biomarker discovery and evaluation, Drug discovery and development, Medicinal products, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy, Toxicology and toxinology, Other pharmaceutical sciences, Microbiology, Systems biology, Laboratory medicine