Zika Virus-Like Particle (VLP) vaccine displaying Envelope (E) protein CD loop antigen elicits protective and specific immune response in a murine model.

Zika Virus-Like Particle (VLP) vaccine displaying Envelope (E) protein CD loop antigen elicits protective and specific immune response in a murine model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2020 Aug 27;529(3):805-811 Authors: Cimica V, Williams S, Adams-Fish D, McMahon C, Narayanan A, Rashid S, Stedman TT Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus associated with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS), reflecting a wide range of congenital abnormalities in fetuses and infants infected with ZIKV before birth. ZIKV infections have also been associated with the neurological autoimmune disorder known as Guillian-Barré syndrome (GBS). To date, no vaccines or antiviral strategies are licensed for ZIKV. We used rational design to develop a novel ZIKV vaccine candidate using a Woodchuck Hepatitis core Antigen (WHcAg) Virus-Like Particle (VLP) scaffold for displaying selected antigens from the ZIKV Envelope (E) protein. A Zika-VLP vaccine candidate containing the CD Loop sub-structural domain from ZIKV E protein Domain III (WHcAg CD Loop) elicited a strong immune response in a murine model. Analysis of serum immunoglobulins demonstrated induction of both Th1- and Th2- mediated immune response. No cross-reacting antibodies were detected between Zika, dengue and yellow fever virus, demonstrating a high level of specificity for the ZIKV CD Loop antigen. Immunization with the WHcAg CD Loop vaccine candidate demonstrated immunoprotection in a muri...
Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research communications - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Biochem Biophys Res Commun Source Type: research