Stress takes many forms and new research shows physical stress generated by the Zika virus is a culprit in the devastating brain microcephaly seen in some countries. Previously, scientists confirmed transmission of the mosquito-borne virus Zika between mother and child leads in some cases to microcephaly, or reduction in brain size and head circumference of infants. The new study from Nature Neuroscience just coming out on January 21 finds that what Zika actually does is induce physical stress in the endoplasmic reticulum, or collection of tubes inside cells that make and move proteins and fats for the body.

Stress from the Zika invasion throws off the regulation of a key protein response for survival of certain neurons during brain development. The neurons in this case are “projection neurons,” or brain cells that have such long extensions they project all the way to distant regions of our central nervous system.

The good news is scientists in the study employed a chemical to stop the improper protein response from the Zika stressor – and successfully prevented microcephaly in mice. Too soon to say what scientists will be able to do for people. The report is helping scientists better understand brain response and function to the virus stressor though, see link below to an abstract of the report.

There are many interesting resources for teachers to better understand the important function of the endoplasmic reticulum in cells, such as https://study.com/academy/lesson/endoplasmic-reticulum-lesson-for-kids-definition-function.html. But note that while interesting to teachers who want to know more about new findings on key issues of brain development, this is not the best context in which to share brain development information for K-12.

Abstract for Nature Neuroscience report on “Stress-induced unfolded protein response contributes to Zika virus-associated microcephaly”:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29230053

–Kathleen Scalise