Zika virus infects human neural stem cells
Friday, March 4, 2016 - 22:00
in Biology & Nature
The Zika virus infects a type of neural stem cell that gives rise to the brain's cerebral cortex, researchers report. On laboratory dishes, these stem cells were found to be havens for viral reproduction, resulting in cell death and/or disruption of cell growth. While this study does not prove the direct link between Zika and microcephaly, it does pinpoint where the virus may be doing the most damage.