Tamdy virus pathogenesis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mouse models

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Pathogenesis Research

Background:

• Tamdy virus (TAMV) is an emerging zoonotic tick-borne bunyavirus posing global public health risks.
• Understanding TAMV pathogenesis is crucial for developing effective countermeasures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and utilize mouse infection models for investigating TAMV pathogenesis.
• To elucidate the clinical and pathological outcomes of TAMV infection in different mouse strains.

Main Methods:

• Infection of adult BALB/c and type I interferon receptor knockout (IFNAR-/-) A129 mice with TAMV.
• Monitoring of clinical symptoms, viral load in blood and tissues, and pathological examination.
• Analysis of host immune responses, including antibody titers, cytokine/chemokine expression, and gene ontology.

Main Results:

• BALB/c mice showed no obvious symptoms, while A129 mice exhibited severe illness, weight loss, and mortality at high TAMV doses.
• High viral loads and significant liver damage were observed in infected A129 mice.
• TAMV infection induced rapid increases in IgM and IgG titers, with type I IFN potentially enhancing IL-10 production for host defense.

Conclusions:

• Immunocompromised A129 mice are a valuable model for studying TAMV pathogenesis.
• Liver injury is linked to virus-induced inflammatory responses.
• These findings provide a foundation for developing TAMV-specific antivirals and vaccines.