Protective efficacy of multiple vaccine platforms against Zika virus challenge in rhesus monkeys

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is responsible for a major ongoing epidemic in the Americas and has been causally associated with fetalmicrocephaly. The development of a safe and effective ZIKV vaccine is therefore an urgent global health priority. Here we demonstrate that three different vaccine platforms protect against ZIKVchallenge in rhesus monkeys. A purified inactivated virus vaccine induced ZIKV-specific neutralizing antibodies and completely protected monkeys against ZIKV strains from both Brazil and Puerto Rico. Purified immunoglobulin from vaccinated monkeys also conferred passive protection in adoptive transfer studies. A plasmid DNAvaccine and a single-shot recombinant rhesus adenovirus serotype 52 vector vaccine, both expressing ZIKV premembrane and envelope, also elicited neutralizing antibodies and completely protected monkeys against ZIKVchallenge. These data support the rapid clinical development of ZIKV vaccines for humans.