Targeting the Zika virus envelope domains I and III as a recombinant vaccine protects mice from lethal challenge
mice vaccinated with ZIKV DI-DIII elicited high ZIKV neutralizing antibodies and were protected from weight loss and death. In addition, sera from DI-DIII vaccinated mice demonstrated a reduced capacity to enhance DENV 1-4 infection in vitro, compared to mice vaccinated with full-length E. This study identifies DI-DIII as a promising immunogen, focusing antibody responses to protective epitopes on ZIKV and minimizing the elicitation of unwanted responses.
Authors
- Jaime L. Jensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8818-7513)
- Letzibeth Mendez-Rivera
- A Farmer
- Ursula Tran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2891-2821)
- Nelson L. Michael (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5882-5548)
- Vincent Dussupt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8579-6356)
- Annika Schmid
- Sandhya Vasan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6378-6288)
- Jill Pflugheber
- Caroline E. Peterson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6087-7301)
- Amelia K. Pinto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7147-3978)
- Marissa D’Onofrio
- Bonnie M. Slike (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4132-4637)
- Shelly J. Krebs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1136-1760)
- W K. CHEN
- James D. Brien (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1670-8041)
- Rajeshwer S. Sankhala
- M Gordon Joyce
- Angélica Peña Rosado (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3324-2797)
- Natalie D. Collins
- Lily Metzger
Institutions
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation (US)
- University of Kentucky (US)
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Vaccines
- Published
- 2026-04-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-026-01442-8
- Primary Topic
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases