The human neural cell atlas of Zika virus infection in developing brain tissue.

ABSTRACT: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can lead to fetal brain infection and developmental anomalies collectively known as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). To define the molecular features underlying CZS in a relevant human cell model, we evaluate ZIKV infection in primary human fetal brain explants and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mixed neural cultures at single-cell resolution. We identify astrocytes as important innate immune sentinel cells detecting ZIKV and producing interferon-beta (IFN-β). In contrast, neural stem cells display impaired innate immunity and support high levels of viral replication. ZIKV infection of neurons suppresses differentiation and synaptic signaling gene networks and programs a molecular switch from neurogenesis to astrogliogenesis. We iden

SUBMITTER: Stokes C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12208335 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature