Modeling Zika Virus Infection in Mice
Shannan L Rossi1, Nikos Vasilakis2
1Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA.
Cell Stem Cell
|July 9, 2016
Summary
New mouse models help understand how Zika virus (ZIKV) infection causes microcephaly. These models support prior findings that ZIKV triggers cell death in developing brain cells, leading to microcephaly.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is linked to microcephaly, a serious birth defect.
- Understanding the precise mechanisms requires relevant animal models for studying ZIKV's effects on pregnant individuals and fetuses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize findings from recent studies that have developed in vivo models of ZIKV infection.
- To correlate these new animal models with existing in vitro data on ZIKV's impact on neural development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of three recent studies that established mouse models for ZIKV infection during pregnancy.
- Comparison of findings from these in vivo models with established in vitro evidence.
Main Results:
- The newly developed mouse models successfully replicate ZIKV infection in pregnant adults and fetuses.
- These models corroborate in vitro findings indicating ZIKV induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in neurons and neural progenitors.
Conclusions:
- In vivo mouse models are crucial for elucidating the link between ZIKV infection and microcephaly.
- ZIKV-induced apoptosis in developing neural cells is a key mechanism contributing to microcephaly, as supported by both in vitro and new in vivo data.
