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

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf8505
• Publication Date: 2016-07-15T03:04:25Z
• Authors: Karin Stettler; Martina Beltramello; Diego A. Espinosa; Victoria Graham; Antonino Cassotta; Siro Bianchi; Fabrizia Vanzetta; Andrea Minola; Stefano Jaconi; Federico Mele; Mathilde Foglierini; Mattia Pedotti; Luca Simonelli; Stuart Dowall; Barry Atkinson; Elena Percivalle; Cameron P. Simmons; Luca Varani; Johannes Blum; Fausto Baldanti; Elisabetta Cameroni; Roger Hewson; Eva Harris; Antonio Lanzavecchia; Federica Sallusto; Davide Corti

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