The presence of the Musashi-1 protein greatly increases production of Zika virus (green), making neural stem cells particularly vulnerable to cell death following viral infection. GENERATED BY THE GERGELY LABWhen the Zika virus enters neural stem cells, a protein called Musashi-1 (MSI1) latches on to the virus’s RNA genome, somehow promoting viral replication. Blocking the cells’ ability to produce MSI1 significantly inhibits Zika’s ability to reproduce, according to an in vitro study published today in Science.
The interaction between the virus and the human protein appears to make the neural stem cells more vulnerable to cell death. Moreover, by binding to the Zika genome, MSI1 was less likely to bind its natural targets within the neural stem cells to properly direct brain development, as evidenced by differences in the cells’ gene expression.
The results provide clues as to how Zika causes microcephaly in fetuses whose mothers were infected while pregnant. Indeed, the team also found that a rare type of inherited microcephaly called autosomal recessive primary microcephaly is associated with mutations in MSI1.
“We’ve shown for the first time this interaction between Zika and MSI1—with MSI1 getting exploited by the virus for its own destructive life cycle, turning MSI1 into the ...
