Noncoding RNA of Zika Virus Affects Interplay between Wnt-Signaling and Pro-Apoptotic Pathways in the Developing Brain Tissue.

ABSTRACT: Zika virus (ZIKV) has a unique ability among flaviviruses to cross the placental barrier and infect the fetal brain causing severe abnormalities of neurodevelopment known collectively as congenital Zika syndrome. In our recent study, we demonstrated that the viral noncoding RNA (subgenomic flaviviral RNA, sfRNA) of the Zika virus induces apoptosis of neural progenitors and is required for ZIKV pathogenesis in the developing brain. Herein, we expanded on our initial findings and identified biological processes and signaling pathways affected by the production of ZIKV sfRNA in the developing brain tissue. We employed 3D brain organoids generated from induced human pluripotent stem cells (ihPSC) as an ex vivo model of viral infection in the developing brain and utilized wild type (WT) ZIKV (p

SUBMITTER: Slonchak A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10222578 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature