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Zika Virus Infection of Cultured Human Fetal Brain Neural Stem Cells for Immunocytochemical Analysis
Published on: February 5, 2018
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Postnatal Zika virus infection is associated with persistent abnormalities in brain structure, function, and behavior
Maud Mavigner1, Jessica Raper2, Zsofia Kovacs-Balint2
1Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Science Translational Medicine
|April 6, 2018
Summary
Postnatal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in infant macaques causes lasting brain changes and altered emotional responses. This highlights the need for long-term monitoring of children affected by ZIKV.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic is linked to congenital ZIKV syndrome, causing severe birth defects.
- While postnatal ZIKV infections in children are known, data on neurological and behavioral outcomes are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of postnatal Zika virus infection on infant brain development and behavior.
Main Methods:
- Postnatal ZIKV infection was studied in infant rhesus macaques (RMs).
- Histopathology, structural MRI, and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) were used to assess central nervous system changes.
- Emotional reactivity to stress was evaluated in infected and control RMs.
Main Results:
- ZIKV infection led to persistent central nervous system alterations, including lymphoid and neurotropism, inflammation, astrogliosis, and Wallerian degeneration.
- MRI revealed enlarged ventricles, altered brain maturation, and abnormal functional connectivity (FC), particularly weakened amygdala-hippocampal connections.
- Infected RMs exhibited altered emotional reactivity, correlating with impaired amygdala-hippocampal FC.
Conclusions:
- Postnatal ZIKV infection significantly impacts neurodevelopment in infant macaques.
- Findings suggest the need for long-term clinical surveillance of pediatric ZIKV cases to monitor for potential neurodevelopmental deficits.
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