Differential contributions of fetal mononuclear phagocytes to Zika neuroinvasion versus neuroprotection during congenital infection

Fetal microglia had a protective role once differentiated in the brain, as their absence increased infection burden and neuronal death. Conversely, monocyte depletion reduced non-productive neuroinflammation. We used Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify transcriptional profiles linked to the protective versus detrimental contributions of mononuclear phagocyte subsets during ZIKV infection in the fetal brain. To investigate the role of mononuclear phagocytes during ZIKV infection in the fetal brain in a pregnant mouse model.