Analysis of transcriptional differences between ZIKV-infected Ifnar-/- and Ifnar+/- placentas

Purpose: While type I interferons (IFN) are important for control of viral replication, we see that, upon infection of Ifnar-/- females were crossed to Ifnar+/- males with ZIKV, only Ifnar+/- fetuses are resorbed or develop severe growth restriction. To identify how IFN may be altering placenta development, we performed RNAsequencing on infected and uninfected Ifnar-/- and Ifnar+/- placentas. Methods: Ifnar-/- females were crossed to Ifnar+/- males and infected intravaginally with Cambodian ZIKV at E5.5. Placentas were harvested from infected and uninfected pregnant dams at E10.5. Results/ Conclusions: Comparison of ZIKV-infected Ifnar-/- and Ifnar+/- shows an elevated interferon stimulated gene (ISG) signature in Ifnar+/- placentas but does not reveal any underlying developmental defects that may be causing defects in placenta development. MRNA profiles from 3 placentas per genotype from uninfected and 5 placentas per genotype of infected were generated using Illumina NextSeq 500.