Paolo Piazza Research Assistant Professor, CLI Member

Our laboratory is interested in establishing the role of the lymphatic system in dengue virus (DENV) infection starting with the lymphatic endothelium. Recent histopathological evidence from other labs supports direct involvement of macrophages from secondary lymphatic organs (spleen and lymph nodes) during DENV infection in humans as well as mice. Preliminary immunohistochemistry data from our lab show that a small percentage of lymphoid endothelial cells (LEC) in primary cultures are infected with laboratory strains of DENV. Once confirmed and extended, these results may have implication on the early dissemination of the virus throughout the body via the lymphatic system.