An In Vitro Assay for Screening Interferons as Potent Inhibitors of Zika Virus Growth

Source: Contreras, D. et al., Zika Virus Infectious Cell Culture System and the In Vitro Prophylactic Effect of Interferons. J. Vis. Exp. (2016) The video demonstrates an in vitro assay for screening interferons with antiviral activity against the Zika virus, a human pathogen. Within the host cell, the Zika virus undergoes multiplication upon internalization, infecting neighboring cells and creating distinct zones or viral plaques. Type I interferon, acting as an antiviral agent, hinders virus multiplication, thereby preventing the formation of viral plaques in the host cell monolayer.