Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Modelling Zika Virus Infection of the Developing Human Brain In Vitro Using Stem Cell Derived Cerebral Organoids
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Modelling Zika Virus Infection of the Developing Human Brain In Vitro Using Stem Cell Derived Cerebral Organoids

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Zika virus impairs growth in human neurospheres and brain organoids

Patricia P Garcez1, Erick Correia Loiola2, Rodrigo Madeiro da Costa2

  • 1Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 12, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was studied in human brain cells. Results show ZIKV harms neural stem cells, impacting brain development and potentially causing microcephaly.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Virology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Brazil has been linked to increased microcephaly cases.
  • Causality between ZIKV and fetal brain malformations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the direct effects of ZIKV on human neural stem cells.
  • To determine if ZIKV impacts neurogenesis during human brain development.

Main Methods:

  • Human neural stem cells were cultured as neurospheres and brain organoids.
  • Immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy were used to analyze ZIKV infection.

Main Results:

  • ZIKV was confirmed to target and infect human brain cells.
  • ZIKV infection reduced the viability and growth of neurospheres and brain organoids.
  • Evidence suggests ZIKV disrupts neurogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Zika virus directly impacts human neural stem cells.
  • ZIKV infection may abrogate neurogenesis, contributing to microcephaly observed during human brain development.

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