Open AccessPotential mechanisms of Zika‐linked microcephaly
Author(s) -
Merfeld Emily,
BenAvi Lily,
Ken Mason,
Cerveny Kara L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
wiley interdisciplinary reviews: developmental biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.779
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1759-7692
pISSN - 1759-7684
DOI - 10.1002/wdev.273
Subject(s) - microcephaly , zika virus , biology , neural stem cell , progenitor cell , outbreak , virology , neuroscience , medicine , stem cell , virus , genetics
A recent outbreak of Zika virus ( ZIKV ) in Brazil is associated with microcephaly in infants born of infected mothers. As this pandemic spreads, rapid scientific investigation is shedding new light on how prenatal infection with ZIKV causes microcephaly. In this analysis we provide an overview of both microcephaly and ZIKV , explore the connection between prenatal ZIKV infection and microcephaly, and highlight recent insights into how prenatal ZIKV infection depletes the pool of neural progenitors in the developing brain. WIREs Dev Biol 2017, 6:e273. doi: 10.1002/wdev.273 This article is categorized under: Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: General Principles Birth Defects > Craniofacial and Nervous System Anomalies Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration > Stem Cells and Disease