Specificity, cross-reactivity, and function of antibodies elicited by Zika virus infection

K Stettler, M Beltramello, DA Espinosa, V Graham… - Science, 2016 - science.org
K Stettler, M Beltramello, DA Espinosa, V Graham, A Cassotta, S Bianchi, F Vanzetta…
Science, 2016science.org
Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus with homology to Dengue virus (DENV), has
become a public health emergency. By characterizing memory lymphocytes from ZIKV-
infected patients, we dissected ZIKV-specific and DENV–cross-reactive immune responses.
Antibodies to nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) were largely ZIKV-specific and were used to
develop a serological diagnostic tool. In contrast, antibodies against E protein domain I/II
(EDI/II) were cross-reactive and, although poorly neutralizing, potently enhanced ZIKV and …
Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus with homology to Dengue virus (DENV), has become a public health emergency. By characterizing memory lymphocytes from ZIKV-infected patients, we dissected ZIKV-specific and DENV–cross-reactive immune responses. Antibodies to nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) were largely ZIKV-specific and were used to develop a serological diagnostic tool. In contrast, antibodies against E protein domain I/II (EDI/II) were cross-reactive and, although poorly neutralizing, potently enhanced ZIKV and DENV infection in vitro and lethally enhanced DENV disease in mice. Memory T cells against NS1 or E proteins were poorly cross-reactive, even in donors preexposed to DENV. The most potent neutralizing antibodies were ZIKV-specific and targeted EDIII or quaternary epitopes on infectious virus. An EDIII-specific antibody protected mice from lethal ZIKV infection, illustrating the potential for antibody-based therapy.
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