Mouse models of Zika in pregnancy show how fetuses become infected

A new mouse model of Zika virus infection in pregnancy is offering clues about how the virus works. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis showed that the virus migrated from the pregnant mouse's bloodstream into the placenta, eventually infecting, and causing cell death, in the brains of the unborn pups. Using this mouse model, researchers hope to learn about the virus' biology and develop new vaccines and treatments. The research, co-funded by NHGRI, appears in Cell.
Source: NHGRI Homepage Highlights - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: news