Preventative Vaccines for Zika Virus Outbreak: Preliminary Evaluation

• Published in: EBioMedicine 2016-11, Vol.13 (C), p.315-320
• Main Authors: Kim, Eun, Erdos, Geza, Huang, Shaohua, Kenniston, Thomas, Falo, Louis D., Gambotto, Andrea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenoviridae - genetics; Adenovirus; Animals; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Cell Line; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Genetic Vectors - genetics; Humans; Immunization; Mice; Microneedles; Research Paper; Vaccine; Vaccines, Subunit - immunology; Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics; Viral Envelope Proteins - immunology; Viral Vaccines - administration & dosage; Viral Vaccines - genetics; Viral Vaccines - immunology; Zika virus; Zika Virus - genetics; Zika Virus - immunology; Zika Virus Infection - epidemiology; Zika Virus Infection - prevention & control; ZIKV-E
• ISSN: 2352-3964; 2352-3964
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.09.028

Since it emerged in Brazil in May 2015, the mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) has raised global concern due to its association with a significant rise in the number of infants born with microcephaly and neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. We developed prototype subunit and adenoviral-based Zika vaccines encoding the extracellular portion of the ZIKV envelope gene (E) fused to the T4 fibritin foldon trimerization domain (Efl). The subunit vaccine was delivered intradermally through carboxymethyl cellulose microneedle array (MNA). The immunogenicity of these two vaccines, named Ad5.ZIKV-Efl and ZIKV-rEfl, was tested in C57BL/6 mice. Prime/boost immunization regimen was associated with induction of a ZIKV-specific antibody response, which provided neutralizing immunity. Moreover, protection was evaluated in seven-day-old pups after virulent ZIKV intraperitoneal challenge. Pups born to mice immunized with Ad5.ZIKV-Efl were all protected against lethal challenge infection without weight loss or neurological signs, while pups born to dams immunized with MNA-ZIKV-rEfl were partially protected (50%). No protection was seen in pups born to phosphate buffered saline-immunized mice. This study illustrates the preliminary efficacy of the E ZIKV antigen vaccination in controlling ZIKV infectivity, providing a promising candidate vaccine and antigen format for the prevention of Zika virus disease. •Two ZIKV vaccines, named Ad5.ZIKV-Efl and ZIKV-rEfl, were tested in C57BL/6 mice.•Protective immunity was evaluated in passively immune seven-day-old pups after virulent ZIKV intraperitoneal challenge.•This study illustrates the efficacy of the ZIKV E antigen vaccination by promising candidate vaccines.