Then, to explore whether the differential expression of the potential host factors determined the differential susceptibility to ZIKV infection, we performed a double allele mutation of the coding sequences of AXL, TYRO3, MERTK and TIM-1 in hTSCs using CRISPR/Cas9, and successful code-shifting mutations of these genes in hTSCs were demonstrated by Sanger sequencing and qRT-PCR (Figure S2). The gene discussed is MERTK; the disease is Zika virus infectious disease.