title: Zika virus impairs growth in human neurospheres and brain organoids.
abstract: Since the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV), reports of microcephaly have increased considerably in Brazil; however, causality between the viral epidemic and malformations in fetal brains needs further confirmation. We examined the effects of ZIKV infection in human neural stem cells growing as neurospheres and brain organoids. Using immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy, we showed that ZIKV targets human brain cells, reducing their viability and growth as neurospheres and brain organoids. These results suggest that ZIKV abrogates neurogenesis during human brain development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Garcez
authors.affiliation: D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erick Correia
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Loiola
authors.affiliation: D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madeiro da Costa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiza M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.affiliation: D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delvecchio
authors.affiliation: D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Minardi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brindeiro
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amilcar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanuri
authors.affiliation: D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stevens K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rehen
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000821:virology*; D001938:Brazil; D016923:Cell Death; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009940:Organoids / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000821:virology; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology