TY - JOUR T1 - Heterologous protection against Asian Zika virus challenge in rhesus macaques JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/059592 SP - 059592 AU - Matthew T. Aliota AU - Dawn M. Dudley AU - Christina M. Newman AU - Emma L. Mohr AU - Dane D. Gellerup AU - Meghan E. Breitbach AU - Connor R. Buechler AU - Mustafa N. Rasheed AU - Mariel S. Mohns AU - Andrea M. Weiler AU - Gabrielle L. Barry AU - Kim L. Weisgrau AU - Josh A. Eudailey AU - Eva G. Rakasz AU - Logan J. Vosler AU - Jennifer Post AU - Saverio Capuano III AU - Thaddeus G. Golos AU - M. Anthony Moody AU - Sallie R. Permar AU - Jorge E. Osorio AU - Thomas C. Friedrich AU - Shelby L. O’Connor AU - David H. O’Connor Y1 - 2016/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/06/17/059592.abstract N2 - Zika virus (ZIKV) isolates are genetically diverse, but belong to two recognized lineages, termed “African” and “Asian.” Asian ZIKV infection during pregnancy causes fetal abnormalities including microcephaly. Developing an effective preventative Zika virus vaccine that protects pregnant women is essential for minimizing fetal abnormalities; at least 18 groups are developing ZIKV vaccines (Hayden, 2016). The genetic and antigenic variability of many RNA viruses limits the effectiveness of vaccines, and the degree to which immunity against one ZIKV strain could provide protection against another is unknown. Here we show that rhesus macaques infected with East African ZIKV strain MR766 are completely protected from subsequent infection with heterologous Asian ZIKV. MR766 is more genetically divergent from all known Asian ZIKV strains than Asian ZIKV strains are from one another. Therefore, ZIKV strain selection is unlikely to compromise vaccine effectiveness.HighlightsAfrican Zika virus (ZIKV) strain MR766 productively infects macaques (68 characters) Immunity elicited by MR766 protects macaques against heterologous Asian ZIKV (77 characters)In vivo restoration of a putative N-linked glycosylation site in MR766 (70 characters)Immunogen selection is unlikely to adversely affect the breadth of vaccine protection (85 characters)eTOC An effective Zika virus vaccine is needed to prevent infection-associated fetal abnormalities. Macaques whose immune responses are primed by infection with East African ZIKV are completely protected from reinfection with heterologous Asian ZIKV. Any Asian ZIKV immunogen that protects against homologous challenge will likely confer protection against all other Asian ZIKV strains. ER -