The Zika virus has evolved specifically to target neural stem cells, feeding off a specific protein in these cells, British scientists reported last night.
The Cambridge University researchers pinpoint a protein called Musashi-1 or MSI1 – as the target for the virus.
The virus hijacks the protein, enabling it to replicate in neural stem cells, ultimately killing them, according to the report in Science.
The theory was testing by creating stem cells unable to make MSI1. The scientists say that virus replication was significantly reduced in these cells – as was cell death.
A second test showed how Zika acted liked a sponge, mopping up MSI1, disrupting the normal development programme of neural stem cells.
A third study showed that people with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly also suffer from a mutated form of MSI1.
Researcher Dr Fanni Gergely said: “The development of a healthy human brain is an incredibly complex process that relies on stem cells and the coordinated actions of many genes.
"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 enemy within. We hope that in the future this discovery could lead to ways of generating potential Zika virus vaccines.”
Dr Mike Turner, head of infection at Wellcome, formerly the Wellcome Trust, which backed the research, said: "This new finding really helps to explain why neural stem cells are so vulnerable to Zika infection and I hope this can be a first step in determining how we could stop this interaction and disease.
"It will also be interesting to investigate whether this protein is involved in other viruses, such as Rubella, that can also access and impair the developing human brain.”
Science 1 June 2017 [abstract]
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