How Zika breaks into the brain

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http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/07/how-zika-breaks-into-the-brain/491873/


Zika is a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. This article discusses how Zika effects  neural cells in the brain.  According to the article, researchers have suggested that some brain cells  that are present in newborns remain in the brain during adulthood. These brain cells are susceptible to Zika. They cells are known as neural progenitor cells. In newborns, neural progenitor cells build a complex brain. In adults, they replace and replenish damaged neurons.Neural progenitor cells are essential in learning and memory, and resistant to Zika.  A study was conducted on mice in order to see the effects that Zika has on neural progenitor cells. The results showed that Zika caused brain impairment and cell death.   Researchers believe that a person with a healthy brain could fight off Zika. It's people that have a weakened immune system, who are at high risk.


This article relates to me for two reasons. First, I plan on becoming a mother in the future. I want to reduce the chance of my baby having birth defects. Secondly,  I love to travel and I'm a very adventurous outdoors person. I usually get bitten up pretty bad in the summer and spring.

Comments

  1. Nicole RafalkoNovember 29, 2016 at 7:45 AM

    This is actually very interesting considering the Zika virus is fairly new and not too many people know about it. I did not know that the brain cells that we have had since we were infants are more susceptible to Zika. Could this mean that if we make a vaccine for it that it would have to be administered as infants? I heard very little about Zika and that it is not super deadly which is shown in the article. This is a good way to educate others on who have never heard of the virus or know nothing about it.

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