Poster #021
ZIKVs Effect On Proliferation of Astrocytes In The Developing Brain
Mentors: Lilian Gomes De Olivera, PhD (Mentor), Arnold R. Kriegstein, MD, PhD (PI)
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a significant risk to the fetal brain development, often leading to birth defects such as microcephaly. ZIKV disrupts cortical development by inducing neuroinflammation and altering neural cell populations. My project aims to examine how ZIKV affects the abundance of astrocytes and neurons in the developing brain. ZIKV-infected and uninfected human fetal brain tissue samples were analyzed using immunofluorescence staining. Primary antibodies targeting SPARCL1 (astrocytes), SATB2 (neurons), and Ki67 (proliferating cells) were applied, followed by fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies and DAPI. Confocal microscopy enabled imaging of the cortical plate, and IMARIS and Fiji software were used for cell quantification. The analysis focused on identifying SPARCL1+ DAPI+ Ki67+ (proliferating astrocytes) and SATB2+ DAPI+ (neurons). Cell densities were compared between infected and control samples to analyze ZIVK’s impact. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of ZIKV and support the development of future scientific research or preventive strategies.