Zika Says No Dice to Dicer

Among the common flaviviruses that infect humans, Zika virus, and the contemporary Asian strain in particular, is distinctively associated with microcephaly. Zeng et al. (2020) report in this issue of Cell Stem Cell that strong binding and inhibition of human Dicer enzyme by the capsid protein is a potential mechanism for this unique pathogenic potential. Among the common flaviviruses that infect humans, Zika virus, and the contemporary Asian strain in particular, is distinctively associated with microcephaly. Zeng et al. (2020) report in this issue of Cell Stem Cell that strong binding and inhibition of human Dicer enzyme by the capsid protein is a potential mechanism for this unique pathogenic potential.