Advances in Zika Virus Research: Stem Cell Models, Challenges, and Opportunities

The re-emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its suspected link with various disorders in newborns and adults led the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. In response, the stem cell field quickly established platforms for modeling ZIKV exposure using human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors and brain organoids, fetal tissues, and animal models. These efforts provided significant insight into cellular targets, pathogenesis, and underlying biological mechanisms of ZIKV infection as well as platforms for drug testing. Here we review the remarkable progress in stem cell-based ZIKV research and discuss current challenges and future opportunities.