Use of Primary Human Fetal Astrocytes and Tissue Explants as Ex Vivo Models to Study Zika Virus Infection of the Developing Brain

Methods Mol Biol. 2020:2142:251-259. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0581-3_19.

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in congenital Zika syndrome which is characterized by microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental disorders. In this chapter, we describe methods to model ex vivo ZIKV infection in astrocytes and tissue explants from human fetal brain. These cell- and tissue-based platforms have been useful to elucidate mechanisms of ZIKV persistence and might lead to important clues about virus-induced neuropathogenesis. In addition, these ex vivo model systems allow researchers to conduct drug discovery and development experiments in more representative settings of the developing human brain.

Keywords: Astrocytes; Cell imaging; Drug assays; Explant; Fetal brain; Zika virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes
  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / pathology*
  • Astrocytes / virology
  • Brain / embryology*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / virology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / pathology*
  • Fetal Diseases / virology
  • Fetus / embryology
  • Fetus / pathology*
  • Fetus / virology
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Models, Biological*
  • Organ Culture Techniques / methods
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / pathology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
  • Primary Cell Culture / methods
  • Vero Cells
  • Zika Virus Infection / pathology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology

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