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. 2018 Sep 18;9(5):e01683-18. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01683-18

FIG 1.

FIG 1

Characterization of the safety profile of ZIKV-LAV upon intracerebral administration in mice. (A) Groups of 3-week-old BALB/c nude mice (n = 30) were intracerebrally inoculated with 10,000 PFU of ZIKV-LAV, ZIKV, JEV-LAV, or PBS. The animals were monitored daily for clinical signs and survival. (B) Tissue distribution of ZIKV-LAV and wild-type ZIKV in nude mice following intracerebral administration. Sera and tissues were collected at the indicated days postinfection (d.p.i) (n = 3 per time point), and viral RNA copies were detected using RT-qPCR. The triangle symbols denote no detectable viral RNA. (C to K) Behavior evaluations of mice receiving intracerebral administration of ZIKV-LAV. Two groups of 4-week-old C57 mice were intracerebrally inoculated with ZIKV-LAV or PBS. The behavior tests were performed 14 days after injection. (C to F) Open field test (n = 11). (C) Mouse traces were recorded in the open field by an infrared video tracking system for 5 min. (D) Overall distances the mice traveled in the open field. (E) Distances the mice traveled in the center of the open field. (F) Total times the mice traveled in the center of the open field. (G) Tail suspension test (n = 14). The total times that the PBS-inoculated and ZIKV-LAV-infected mice were immobile during the tail suspension test during a 6-min time period are presented. (H to J) Elevated plus maze test (n = 13). (H) Mouse traces in the elevated plus maze test were recorded by an infrared video tracking system for 5 min. (I) Entrances of mice into open arms. (J) Total times that the mice traveled in the open arms. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t tests. For all the analyzed parameters, the differences between the ZIKV-LAV-infected and PBS control groups were statistically nonsignificant, with a P value of >0.05. (K) Rota-rod test (n = 14). All animals were subjected to one session per day for 3 days. The total times that the PBS (mock)-treated and ZIKV-LAV-infected mice spent on the rod were compared by two-way ANOVA, with a P value of >0.05.