Human organoids for Risk Group 4 virus research: a new frontier in investigating Nipah virus infection of the central nervous system
Summary
Advanced development of medical countermeasures against Risk Group 4 viruses, such as the Nipah virus, historically required testing in mammals under the FDA Animal Rule and translation of data to inform clinical trials in humans. Because the application of human organoids in research on viruses pathogenic for humans is conspecific, it bears the potential to reduce, refine, or replace animal studies where unnecessary. Human cerebral organoids are three-dimensional cell aggregates that resemble the developing human brain functionally and structurally. Brain organoids may be valuable in investigating the replication, neuroinvasion, pathogenesis, virulence, and persistence of neurotropic viruses and provide scientific discernment when developing medical countermeasures destined for the human end-user.
| Authors | Worwa G, Yú S, Hischak AMW, Tran JP, Bearss JJ, Bernbaum J, Woodburn DB, Pahar B, Geiger J, Huzella LM, Freire SV, Crozier I, Muñoz-Fontela C, Palacios G, Kleinstreuer NC, Widerspick L, Kuhn JH |
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| Journal | Journal of virology |
| Publication Date | 2025 Nov 25;99(11):e0107025 |
| PubMed | 41159751 |
| PubMed Central | PMC12645973 |
| DOI | 10.1128/jvi.01070-25 |