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

TLDR

The Zika virus poses a public health emergency, prompting investigation into its specific immune response and the need to test cross‑reactivity with dengue antibodies in humans. The study aims to characterize the Zika virus antibody response. The authors analyzed 119 monoclonal antibodies isolated from four Zika‑infected donors, two of whom had prior dengue infection. Neutralizing antibodies mainly targeted envelope protein domain III or quaternary epitopes, with an EDIII‑specific antibody protecting mice from lethal infection, while some EDI/II‑targeting antibodies cross‑reacted with dengue virus and could enhance disease in dengue‑infected mice. Stettler et al.

Abstract

Characterizing the Zika virus antibody response Given the public health emergency that Zika virus poses, scientists are seeking to understand the Zika-specific immune response. Stettler et al. analyzed 119 monoclonal antibodies isolated from four donors that were infected with Zika virus during the present epidemic, including two individuals that had previously been infected with dengue virus, another member of the flavivirus family. Neutralizing antibodies primarily recognized the envelope protein domain III (EDIII) or quaternary epitopes on the intact virus, and an EDIII-targeted antibody protected mice against lethal infection. Some EDI/II-targeting antibodies cross-reacted with dengue virus in vitro and could enhance disease in dengue-infected mice. Whether dengue and Zika virus antibodies cross-react in humans remains to be tested. Science , this issue p. 823