Zika Virus in the Male Reproductive Tract

Viruses

Liesel Stassen¹  KennethW. Beagley¹  FrancescaD. Frentiu¹  CharlesW. Armitage¹  DavidJ. van der Heide¹ 

[1] Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4006, Queensland, Australia;

关键词: flavivirus;    arbovirus;    Zika;    sexual transmission;    testis;    prostate;   

DOI  :  10.3390/v10040198

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are resurging across the globe. Zika virus (ZIKV) has caused significant concern in recent years because it can lead to congenital malformations in babies and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Unlike other arboviruses, ZIKV can be sexually transmitted and may persist in the male reproductive tract. There is limited information regarding the impact of ZIKV on male reproductive health and fertility. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie persistent ZIKV infections in men is critical to developing effective vaccines and therapies. Mouse and macaque models have begun to unravel the pathogenesis of ZIKV infection in the male reproductive tract, with the testes and prostate gland implicated as potential reservoirs for persistent ZIKV infection. Here, we summarize current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of ZIKV in the male reproductive tract, the development of animal models to study ZIKV infection at this site, and prospects for vaccines and therapeutics against persistent ZIKV infection.

【 授权许可】

Unknown