Differential Type 1 IFN Gene Expression in CD14+ Placenta Cells Elicited by Zika Virus Infection During Pregnancy.

Summary: Zika virus is a terrifying prospect for expectant mothers because of the severe damage it can cause to a developing fetus’s brain. However, new research reveals that the placenta—the baby's life support system—might be fighting back harder than we thought. Scientists studied the placentas of pregnant rhesus macaques and humans infected with Zika. They discovered that specific immune cells, known as CD14+ cells, activate a powerful defense system when the virus attacks. Regardless of when the infection occurred during pregnancy, these cells switched on "antiviral" genes (specifically IFI27 and IFI6) that act like a biological firewall. This suggests the placenta creates an "immune shield" to limit the virus's spread and protect the fetus from further harm.