Zika Virus Infects Human Fetal Brain Microglia and Induces Inflammation.

Background: The unprecedented reemergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) has startled the world with reports of increased microcephaly in Brazil. ZIKV can infect human neural progenitors and impair brain growth. However, direct evidence of ZIKV infection in human fetal brain tissues remains elusive.

Rational design of fluorescent biosensor for cyclic di-GMP.

Messenger bagged: The design of a fluorophore-labeled protein biosensor for the bacterial messenger cyclic di-GMP is described. The biosensor responds to c-di-GMP with sub-micromolar sensitivity in a real-time fashion. The biosensor can be used for enzyme assays for diguanylate cyclases and c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases as well as the high-throughput screening of inhibitors.