Genomic, molecular, and functional investigations of Zika virus infection in humans. Zika virus

This is a long-term project by the Chiu laboratory at University of California, San Francisco to characterize Zika virus infection and infection from other arthropod-borne pathogens in humans. Our studies include (1) genome sequencing and comparative molecular clock and phylogenetic analyses, (2) in vitro cell culture and non-human primate models of Zika virus infection, (3) identification of gene expression biomarkers of host response to Zika infection, (4) development of new genomic-based diagnostic assays for Zika infection and its complications, and (5) investigations of the potential risk of Zika virus transmission in blood transfusion.