Scientists have explained how Zika virus “eats” the brain of unborn children – Russian Newspaper

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researchers from Washington University school of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of California medical school in San Diego have made a breakthrough in understanding how Zika virus provokes the development of birth defects in children.

 

They presented a model of transmission from a pregnant mouse to the fetus, and showed how the virus attacks the nerve cells it. The experimental results are published in Nature and Cell journal.

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First, the researchers analyzed the spread of the virus in the body of pregnant mice that had compromised immune system function. It turned out that Zeke infects the placenta and accumulate in it. The concentration of viral particles there was a thousand times higher than in maternal blood. Further infection penetrates into the outer shell of the embryo cells and blood vessels.

 

In mice was observed microcephaly, neuronal damage. Scientists believe that the virus activates a protective reaction of the organism. However, running immune processes disrupt the activity of genes required for the development of the fetal brain.

 

The main conclusion of the researchers: Zika virus attacks the embryo brain, causing irreversible changes in it. It leads to death of nerve cells, fetal head size reduction and total growth inhibition.

 

In addition, the researchers conducted experiments “in vitro” with human tissue. Infection also slowed their growth and destroying the cells of the cerebral cortex.

 

The results of these studies can be used to develop vaccines for pregnant and antiviral drugs.

 

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Zika virus was first isolated in 1947 from rhesus monkeys in the forest in Uganda Zika. In 1968 he was first found in humans in Nigeria. And in 2007, the virus has moved east across the Pacific, in 2015 reached South and Central America. The main vectors – mosquitoes. Symptoms of the disease in adults – a slight headache, malaise, fever, itchy rash on the skin. Infection with fever Zeke women in the first 3-4 months of pregnancy leads to fetal abnormalities.