Human Genetic Variation Regulating Cellular Susceptibility to Zika Virus

In this proposal, Dr. Xie will lead and oversee his research team throughout the course of the study. His team will be responsible for the generation and characterization of all three recombinant Zika viruses to be used in the scHi-HOST screening using their well-established reverse genetic systems.

Once the hits have been identified during the scHi-HOST screening, Dr. Xie’s team will conceive and carry out the cell culture experiments aimed at validating SNPs associated with cellular susceptibility to Zika virus. Specifically, this will include the creation and characterization of CRISPR knockout (KO) cell lines, followed by a comparison of the susceptibility of these KO cells to the three recombinant Zika viruses. Various cell types, including immune cells, neural progenitors, and placental trophoblasts, will be used in this comprehensive study. Dr. Xie’s team will use a diverse array of methods, including plaque assay, flowcytometry analysis, Western blotting, immunofluorescence assay, and RT- PCR, to examine the viral replication, infection rate, and the expression of viral and host proteins.

Dr. Xie, along with his dedicated team, is fully committed to ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality results, achieving the proposed goals, and meeting the envisioned milestones. Beyond the execution of the experiments themselves, Dr. Xie’s team will also provide the interpretation of experimental outcomes. Furthermore, they will actively participate in regular group meetings, engage in scientific discussion, as well as prepare potential publications through this study.