biostudies-literatureBird IMPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity of Pittsburgh1840https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11433722biostudies-literatureUnknown12(9)Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is a significant global health concern due to its association with neurodevelopmental disorders such as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). This study aimed to compare the replication kinetics, viral persistence, cytopathogenic effects, and immune gene expression in human microglia cells (CHME-3) infected with an Asian lineage ZIKV (PRVABC59, referred to as ZIKV-PRV) and an African lineage ZIKV (IBH30656, referred to as ZIKV-IBH). We found that ZIKV-PRV replicated more efficiently and persisted longer while inducing lower levels of cell death and inflammatory gene activation compared with ZIKV-IBH. These findings suggest that the enhanced replication and persistence of ZIKV-PRV, along with its ability to evade innate immune responses, may underliMicroorganismsDistinct Replication Kinetics, Cytopathogenicity, and Immune Gene Regulation in Human Microglia Cells Infected with Asian and African Lineages of Zika Virus.PMC11433722Huck Chair fundsChair fundsChothe SKJacob JCavener VSurendran Nair MNissly RHBird IMKuchipudi SVfalseDistinct Replication Kinetics, Cytopathogenicity, and Immune Gene Regulation in Human Microglia Cells Infected with Asian and African Lineages of Zika Virus.Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is a significant global health concern due to its association with neurodevelopmental disorders such as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). This study aimed to compare the replication kinetics, viral persistence, cytopathogenic effects, and immune gene expression in human microglia cells (CHME-3) infected with an Asian lineage ZIKV (PRVABC59, referred to as ZIKV-PRV) and an African lineage ZIKV (IBH30656, referred to as ZIKV-IBH). We found that ZIKV-PRV replicated more efficiently and persisted longer while inducing lower levels of cell death and inflammatory gene activation compared with ZIKV-IBH. These findings suggest that the enhanced replication and persistence of ZIKV-PRV, along with its ability to evade innate immune responses, may underli2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Sep2026-04-08T18:52:24.083Z2025-04-06T16:09:15.209ZS-EPMC114337223933851410.3390/microorganisms12091840