Project description:Cerebral organoids, three-dimensional cultures that model organogenesis, provide a new platform to investigate human brain development. High cost, variability and tissue heterogeneity limit accessibility and broad applications of current organoid technologies. Here we developed a miniaturized spinning bioreactor (SpinΩ) to generate forebrain-specific organoids from human iPSCs. These organoids recapitulate key features of human cortical development, including progenitor zone organization, neurogenesis, gene expression, and importantly, a distinct human-specific outer radial glia cell layer. We have also developed protocols to generate midbrain and hypothalamic organoids. Finally, we employed this forebrain organoid platform to model Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure. Quantitative analyses revealed that preferential, productive ZIKA infection of cortical neural progenitors leads to increased cell death and reduced proliferation, resulting in decreased neuronal cell layer volume that resembles microcephaly. Together, our brain region-specific organoids and SpinΩ provide an accessible and versatile platform for modeling human brain development and diseases, and for compound testing.
Project description:Pluripotent stem cells (PSC) can differentiate inot any cell type of an organism. Their remarkable capability of self-organization enables the formation of three-dimensional structures that resembles miniature organs, including cerebral organoids. These organoids can recreate early steps of the human cerebral cortex development, and show great potential for modeling human diseases, particularly for those with a developmental component. This data evidences stem cell-derived cerebral organoids as a key model to study brain development and neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Project description:Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are intrinsically able to self-organize into cerebral organoids that mimic features of developing human brain tissue. These three-dimensional (3D) structures provide a unique opportunity to generate cytoarchitecture and cell-cell interactions reminiscent of human brain complexity in a dish. However, current in vitro brain organoid methodologies often result in intra-organoid variability, limiting their use in recapitulating later developmental stages as well as in disease modeling and drug discovery. In addition, cell stress and hypoxia resulting from long-term culture lead to incomplete maturation and cell death within the inner core. Here, we used a recombinant silk microfiber network as a scaffold to drive human PSCs to self-arrange into engineered cerebral organoids. Silk scaffolding promoted neuroectoderm formation and reduced heterogeneity of cellular organization within individual organoids. Bulk and single cell transcriptomics confirmed that silk cerebral organoids display more homogeneous and functionally mature neuronal properties than organoids grown in the absence of silk fibers. Furthermore, oxygen sensing analysis showed that silk scaffolds create more favorable growth and differentiation conditions by facilitating the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Silk-engineering platform appears to reduce intra-organoid variability and enhances functional maturation during spontaneous self-patterning in human brain organoid differentiation.
Project description:Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are intrinsically able to self-organize into cerebral organoids that mimic features of developing human brain tissue. These three-dimensional (3D) structures provide a unique opportunity to generate cytoarchitecture and cell-cell interactions reminiscent of human brain complexity in a dish. However, current in vitro brain organoid methodologies often result in intra-organoid variability, limiting their use in recapitulating later developmental stages as well as in disease modeling and drug discovery. In addition, cell stress and hypoxia resulting from long-term culture lead to incomplete maturation and cell death within the inner core. Here, we used a recombinant silk microfiber network as a scaffold to drive human PSCs to self-arrange into engineered cerebral organoids. Silk scaffolding promoted neuroectoderm formation and reduced heterogeneity of cellular organization within individual organoids. Bulk and single cell transcriptomics confirmed that silk cerebral organoids display more homogeneous and functionally mature neuronal properties than organoids grown in the absence of silk fibers. Furthermore, oxygen sensing analysis showed that silk scaffolds create more favorable growth and differentiation conditions by facilitating the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Silk-engineering platform appears to reduce intra-organoid variability and enhances functional maturation during spontaneous self-patterning in human brain organoid differentiation.
Project description:Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted positive-sense RNA virus in the family Flaviviridae. Live attenuated vaccines have been successfully used to combat infection by flaviviruses, such as yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis viruses. A Zika virus harboring combined mutations in the envelope protein glycosylation site and in the nonstructural 4B protein amino acid 36 (ZE4B-36) was generated and assessed for stability, attenuation, and protection against infection. To determine the genetic stability of its RNA genome, ZE4B-36 was serially passaged in vitro in Vero cells. Virus harvested from passages (P)1 to P6 was subjected to next generation sequencing and downstream analysis to determine its nucleotide sequence variability. Specifically, single nucleotide variant analysis showed that the ZE4B-36 genome decreased its genetic diversity and resulted in a more stable nucleotide sequence. Thus, in addition to showing attenuation and protection, ZE4B-36 is a stable live attenuated virus that possesses characteristics important for a vaccine to combat Zika disease.