Rabies virus infection and immune activation in human epidermal keratinocytes: Implications for rabies transmission (IMAGE)

Elsevier

Rabies virus infection and immune activation in human epidermal keratinocytes: Implications for rabies transmission

Caption

While it was previously thought that keratinocytes (skin cells) were only passive conductors that allow the rabies virus (RABV) to pass through, novel research in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reveals that these cells play a much more active role. An in vitro co-culture model shows that the virus can replicate in keratinocytes and that infection induces an antiviral immune response in the skin’s surface. The findings highlight the risk of rabies infection via neuroinvasion from superficial scratches or minor bites.

Credit

Journal of Investigative Dermatology / Kroh et al.

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CC BY

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