Evaluation of Viral Replication by Tonate Virus (TONV) and Zika Virus (ZIKV), Within an ex Vivo Trophoblast and Placental Model

C6/36 cells will be cultured in L15 culture medium (Leibovitz's L-15 medium), supplemented with 5% FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin at 28°C in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% C02. ZIKV and TONV will be expanded and titrated using C6/36 cells. The viral stock will be aliquoted in 100 µL aliquots and stored at -80°C.

Placental tissues will be handled within one hour of delivery. The chorionic villi will be dissected into 5mm sections and the tissues washed abundantly, minimum 3 times with a standard culture medium (RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS), 1% L-Glutamine and 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin) to remove maternal blood, membranes and blood clots. Collagen gel sponges will be placed in 6-well plate wells containing 3mL of culture medium (RPMI-1640 supplemented with 15% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FCS), 1% Penicillin/streptomycin, 0 1% Gentamycin, 1% Amphotericin B, 1% L-Glutamine, 1% non-essential amino acid, 1% sodium pyruvate) per well. Chorionic villi will be dissected into 5mm sections and placed on top of collagen gel sponges at the interface between culture medium and air.