Zika Virus-Like Particles Bearing a Covalent Dimer of Envelope Protein Protect Mice from Lethal Challenge.

ABSTRACT: Zika virus (ZIKV) envelope (E) protein is the major target of neutralizing antibodies in infected hosts and thus represents a candidate of interest for vaccine design. However, a major concern in the development of vaccines against ZIKV and the related dengue virus is the induction of cross-reactive poorly neutralizing antibodies that can cause antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection. This risk necessitates particular care in vaccine design. Specifically, the engineered immunogens should have their cross-reactive epitopes masked, and they should be optimized for eliciting virus-specific strongly neutralizing antibodies upon vaccination. Here, we developed ZIKV subunit- and virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines displaying E in its wild-type form or E locked in a covalently link

SUBMITTER: De Lorenzo G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7737734 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature