Dengue virus sero-cross-reactivity drives antibody-dependent enhancement of infection with zika virus

Nat Immunol. 2016 Sep;17(9):1102-8. doi: 10.1038/ni.3515. Epub 2016 Jun 23.

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) was discovered in 1947 and was thought to lead to relatively mild disease. The recent explosive outbreak of ZIKV in South America has led to widespread concern, with reports of neurological sequelae ranging from Guillain Barré syndrome to microcephaly. ZIKV infection has occurred in areas previously exposed to dengue virus (DENV), a flavivirus closely related to ZIKV. Here we investigated the serological cross-reaction between the two viruses. Plasma immune to DENV showed substantial cross-reaction to ZIKV and was able to drive antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of ZIKV infection. Using a panel of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to DENV, we showed that most antibodies that reacted to DENV envelope protein also reacted to ZIKV. Antibodies to linear epitopes, including the immunodominant fusion-loop epitope, were able to bind ZIKV but were unable to neutralize the virus and instead promoted ADE. Our data indicate that immunity to DENV might drive greater ZIKV replication and have clear implications for disease pathogenesis and future vaccine programs for ZIKV and DENV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / blood
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibody-Dependent Enhancement*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross Reactions*
  • Dengue / epidemiology
  • Dengue / immunology*
  • Dengue Virus / physiology*
  • Epitope Mapping
  • Female
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Microcephaly / epidemiology
  • Protein Binding
  • South America / epidemiology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Replication
  • Zika Virus / physiology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / epidemiology
  • Zika Virus Infection / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunodominant Epitopes
  • Viral Envelope Proteins