mRNA-1893 Zika Vaccine

Two Mosquito-Transmitted Viruses Causing Microcephaly in Newborns

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:04:48 +0000

Reviewer:

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), scientists in Brazil believe that the Oropouche virus (OROV) may cause stillbirths and neurological defects in babies who are infected in the womb, similar to the Zika virus.

Since 2013, 31 countries and territories in the Americas have reported cases of microcephaly (head shape issues) and other central nervous system malformations associated with Zika infection.

On July 12, 2024, the Brazilian Ministry of Health reported four cases of microcephaly in newborns from infected mothers and one potential fetal death associated with OROV.

In this communication, Brazil also reported that, in June 2024, a retrospective analysis of serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples collected and stored for arbovirus research, which had tested negative for dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and West Nile virus.

In this study, four newborns with microcephaly were detected with IgM class antibodies against OROV in serum samples and cerebrospinal fluid.

These researchers wrote that the studies' limitations do not allow for establishing a causal relationship between OROV infection and neurological malformations.

Brazil's health ministry now recommends health professionals closely monitor pregnant people infected with Oropouche, which was initially reported in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955.

In a PAHO Epidemiological Alert issued on July 17, 2024, the PAHO asked other countries to be on the lookout for similar cases. For example, in May 2024, Cuba's Ministry of Public Health reported 74 Oropouche cases.

These OROV cases are similar to those during Brazil's previous and ongoing Zika outbreaks. As of July 2024, Brazil has reported over 24,000 Zika cases this year.

Additionally, Zika cases have been confirmed in Puerto Rico and Costa Rica in 2024.

From a prevention perspective, no U.S. FDA-approved vaccines targeting Zika and Oropouche viruses are available in 2024.

However, Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

In March 2024, Valneva SE announced initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of VLA1601, its second-generation adjuvanted inactivated vaccine candidate against Zika.

Sub Title:

Oropouche and Zika viruses vertical transmission investigated

References:

PAHO - Epidemiological Alert Oropouche in the Region of the Americas

Brazil - Technical Note No. 15/2024-SVSA/MS

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US CDC Brazil Zika 2024

Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya Co-Infections Reported

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 17:13:49 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

At least two Zika patients have reported co-infection of chikungunya and dengue in Pune, India. The Times of India reported on July 5, 2024, that an official from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) told the media that Pune City is a hotspot for vector-borne diseases.

Therefore, co-infections with chikungunya and dengue are not entirely out of the blue. However, their severity can be debatable, says the NIV.

Previously, several individuals, including pregnant women in Erandwane, India, were confirmed with Zika virus infections in June-July 2024.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says rare co-infections have been identified. Given the similar clinical features and lack of concurrent testing, Zika, chikungunya, and dengue co-infections might not be identified.

The CDC concluded in a February 2024 analysis that the frequency of Zika reinfections remains uncertain. A study emphasizes the critical role of ongoing genomic surveillance in viral infections to enhance public health interventions.

This under-diagnosis creates health risks for people, such as Zika, which can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause congenital disabilities such as microcephaly.

In the Region of the Americas, over 24,000 Zika cases have been reported this year, primarily in Brazil.

As of July 6, 2024, no approved Zika vaccines exist, but newer versions for chikungunya and dengue are available in certain countries.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials in 2024

References:

Zika outbreaks 2024

CDC - Zika Virus Reinfection by Genome Diversity and Antibody Response Analysis, Brazil

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ECDC Zika case map 2024

Zika Infects Pregnant Women in Pune

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:57:34 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

According to ANI reporting today, two pregnant women in Erandwane, India, have been confirmed with Zika virus cases infections.

As of July 2, 2024, Dr. Kalpana Baliwant, health officer for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), stated that among the 25 Zika samples collected, 12 were from Erandwane, including seven from pregnant women, including the two pregnant women.

An additional 13 samples were collected from Mundhwa, with no reports of pregnant women testing positive during this Zika outbreak.

The PMC launched fumigating programs in late June 2024 and urges citizens to follow the guidelines and take necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites that further the spread of the Zika virus.

Since 2016, the Zika virus has been reported in 16 different Indian states and union territories.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects, such as microcephaly, which is a rare congenital disability that causes a baby's head to be smaller than usual.

Extensive Zika virus outbreaks occurred in the Americas between 2015 and 2016 but generally receded.

As of July 2024, the CDC says mosquitoes spreading Zika are found in the Region of the Americas, including Puerto Rico.

As of July 2024, 16 Zika cases have been reported in the San Juan, PR area. In 2023, 43 Zika virus cases were reported in PR.

The Puerto Rico Department of Health says Zika will continue to infect people.

The U.S. CDC, Canada, and the United Kingdom say that if you are pregnant, you should not travel to areas reporting Zika cases.

As of July 2024, there are no approved Zika vaccines. However, vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccines are conducting clinical study in 2024

References:

Pune India MC

US CDC Zika 2024

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US CDC Zika geographic risk classification map May 15, 2024

Zika and Microcephaly Return in 2024

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 03 May 2024 21:17:35 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Although the Zika virus (ZIKV) has been known since 2007, outbreaks have not been in the news much in 2024.

Since the confirmation of a ZIKV outbreak in Brazil in March 2015, many countries in the Region of the Americas have been affected.

According to the data dashboard of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), as of May 3, 2024, over 6,878 Zika cases have been reported in the Americas this year.

While this number of cases is still alarming, it is fewer than the 55,813 cases reported in 2023.

Unfortunately, Brazil continues leading the Americas with over 6,599 Zika cases in 2024.

In the United States, Puerto Rico has reported 3 Zika cases in the San Juan area this year. In 2023, 43 Zika virus cases were reported.

According to the PAHO, most people recover from a ZIKV infection. However, congenital Zika is a devastating and frequent consequence of maternal Zika virus infections.

Northeast Brazil was the first region to detect a significant increase in babies born with microcephaly associated with prenatal ZIKV infection.

Since then, children battling the effects of microcephaly have been detected throughout Brazil.

The results of a ZBC-Consortium meta-analysis in 2023 provide robust estimates of the risk of adverse events in children born to pregnant women who were infected with ZIKV during pregnancy.

According to the study findings, microcephaly was observed in 1.5% of children at birth, with severe microcephaly being less frequent than mild/moderate microcephaly.

Furthermore, even though some children are born with an average head circumference for their age and sex, they may develop postnatal microcephaly, which implies the need to monitor these children and repeat head circumference measurements.

It was also demonstrated that the risk of children being born small for gestational age was more significant than the risk reported for the general population.

The study authors noted that the risk of microcephaly did not vary in different regions of Brazil or with socioeconomic conditions.

They concluded this mosquito-transmitted disease infects people indiscriminately.

If and when a Zika vaccine candidate is approved, its introduction needs to take into account geographic needs, as well as those at the highest risk... children.

Sub Title:

6,878 ZIka cases confirmed in the Americas as of May 2024

References:

Zika Outbreaks 2024

Brazilian Response to the Microcephaly Epidemic: A Meta-analysis

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PAHO 2024

Zika Infections Escalating in 2023

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 16:31:15 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

During the recent pandemic, a seldom discussed mosquito-borne virus was confirmed in 89 countries globally. Although incidence levels of the Zika virus remained low, significant increases have been observed in some countries.

Outbreaks of Zika in the region of the Americas have highlighted the significant public impact of this severe virus.

Zika infections can cause congenital microcephaly and neurodevelopmental disorders after infection in pregnancy.

An April 2023 study shows that the most severe manifestation observed in 1.5% of infected pregnant women is microcephaly.

Furthermore, even though some children are born with an average head circumference, they may develop postnatal microcephaly.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported on September 1, 2023, that about 28,000 Zika cases have been confirmed this year.

Since its first detection in Brazil in March 2015, local transmission of Zika has been confirmed in all countries and territories of the Americas, except continental Chile, Uruguay, and Canada.

Ten countries account for 89% of Zika cases recorded between 2014 and 2023, with Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela leading the expanding list.

As of August 2023, Brazil has reported over 26,000 Zika cases.

In the United States, Puerto Rico has reported 32 Zika cases this year.

"It is essential to link surveillance for acute Zika infections and the manifestation of other neurological syndromes such as Guillain-Barre," Thais dos Santos, Advisor on Surveillance and Control of Arboviral Neglected Diseases at PAHO, said in a press release.

"If we optimize this approach, we will be better prepared to understand the disease and take preventive measures fully," she added.

"Maintaining adequate monitoring is crucial to prevent future epidemics."

"This will enable the timely detection of Zika and, in turn, the implementation of relevant and effective control measures," the PAHO expert said.

Unlike most diseases, no U.S. FDA-approved Zika vaccines prevent the spread or limit its impact on people.

"Most infections with this (Zika) virus are asymptomatic or mild, making their detection by healthcare systems quite challenging," commented María Van Kerkhove, Head of the Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses Unit at the World Health Organization.

The recently conducted EPI-WIN webinar, Zika Virus: Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future, brought together experts to discuss the global Zika situation, as well as measures to track its transmission for preparedness and early response.

Sub Title:

32 Zika cases in Puerto Rico during 2023

References:

Zika: A silent virus requiring enhanced surveillance and control

EPI-WIN webinar: Zika virus: learning from the past, preparing for the future

WHO - Zika virus

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Institut Pasteur Zika outbreak map September 2023

24,124 Zika Cases Confirmed in the Americas

Karen McClorey Hackett — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:06:09 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

Since its first detection in Brazil in 2015, the Zika virus has become endemic in several countries. Furthermore, the risk of infants being impacted by microcephaly remains a primary concern of pregnant women contemplating international travel.

While the United States has avoided these health risks, other countries continue reporting Zika infections.

During 2023, several countries in the Region of the Americas registered increases in Zika cases compared to 2022.

In 2022, a total of 406,249 Zika cases, including two deaths, were reported in 15 countries and territories of the Region of the Americas, says the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Its database indicated in early July 2023, there have been 8758 Zika cases reported this year. Brazil has reported the vast majority, followed by Belize and Bolivia.

The U.S. CDC says Zika virus infections during pregnancy can cause severe fetal brain defects such as microcephaly.

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby's head is smaller than expected. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

Additionally, Congenital Zika syndrome is a unique pattern of birth defects and disabilities found among fetuses and babies infected with Zika during pregnancy.

The CDC says the only way to prevent Zika infection during pregnancy completely is to not travel to areas with a risk of Zika. Popular vacation destinations such as Costa Rica and Puerto Rico are included in these disease hot-spot warnings in 2023.

The CDC's Travel Health Notices and the U.K.'s NHS may include country-based Zika warnings.

As of July 12, 2023, there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika.

However, several Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials in 2023

References:

PAHO Epidemiological Update - Dengue, chikungunya and Zika - June 2023

PAHO Zika database 2023

UK NHS 2023

U.S. CDC Zika and Pregnancy

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U.S. CDC Microcephaly 2023

Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Could Lead to Zika Vaccines

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:45:21 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

Researchers at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center recently discovered a potent antibody that appears to block mosquito-borne viruses.

The newly found antibody can block the Zika virus, as well.

Fred Hutch researcher Leslie Goo, Ph.D., MPH, is an expert in flaviviruses, a family of pathogens that include Zika, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis viruses.

She leads a team of scientists that used an advanced laboratory technique called single-cell RNA sequencing to study blood drawn from patients in Colombia who had experienced multiple exposures to both dengue and Zika.

“Zika and dengue virus are very closely related,” Dr. Goo said in a press release on April 19, 2023.

“Half the world is now at risk for infection with the four types of dengue and Zika because the same mosquito species transmit them.”

Her team’s experiment aimed to find natural immune proteins called broadly neutralizing antibodies, so named because they are both potent and can block many strains of the virus.

The Colombian cohort was an ideal group to search for these rare antibodies.

Because of the repeated assaults from the dengue virus, and more recently by Zika, the immune systems of people in this group were a perfect environment for evolving broadly neutralizing antibodies, or bNabs.

In the end, Goo and her colleagues landed on results from just four of those patients that together yielded 23 new bNabs.

Several of those antibodies appear better than the handful previously identified by dengue researchers using more conventional laboratory techniques.

And one of the Goo team’s newly discovered antibodies, designated F25.S02, stood out from all the rest.

The unedited article is posted at this link.

As of April 27, 2023, no Zika vaccines are approved in the U.S.

Updated on May 10, 2023 - reassigned domain.

Sub Title:

New way to block dengue and Zika viruses

Reference:

Early research may show new way to block dengue and Zika virus

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by Herney Gómez

repRNA Vaccination In Utero Transfers Protective Antibodies Against Zika

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:15:46 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Researchers recently reported newly developed mRNA vaccines against the Zika virus, and HIV-1 produced strong antibody responses that transferred from pregnant rabbits to their offspring.

These two pathogens play a significant role in causing infections in newborns after mother-to-child transmission.

Published in the journal Molecular Therapy on March 24, 2023, the study's results support further development of their vaccine platform, LIONTM/repRNA, for maternal and neonatal settings to protect against mother-to-child transmission of pathogens in animals and humans.

"Preventing mother-to-child transmission is a major goal for reducing disease burden in newborns," says senior author Amit Khandhar, a material scientist at HDT Bio Corp, in a press release.

"With mRNA vaccines attracting global attention, there is a need to evaluate their safety and immunogenicity in preclinical models that inform maternal and childhood vaccination."

Khandhar collaborated with Herman Staats of Duke University School of Medicine and Noah Sather of Seattle Children's Research Institute to evaluate self-amplifying replicon (repRNA) vaccines.

The repRNA vaccines encode viral enzymes that amplify the expression of a gene of interest by 10- to 100-fold over non-replicating mRNA, providing dosing and manufacturing advantages.

The researchers delivered the vaccines with their clinical-stage LIONTM nanoparticle formulation in pregnant rabbits using the Zika virus and HIV-1 as model disease targets.

The proprietary LIONTM delivery technology is a stable oil-in-water nanoparticle emulsion that electrostatically binds and protects nucleic acids, in contrast to lipid nanoparticle formulations, which encapsulate RNA.

Because LIONTM is stored independently of repRNA, it has plug-and-play functionality, allowing for rapid evaluation of new repRNA vaccine constructs such as those recently developed to address emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The results showed that repRNA immunization at a relatively high dose was well tolerated and had no detrimental impact on litter size. The LIONTM/repRNA vaccines also triggered robust antigen-specific antibody responses in pregnant adult rabbits that were likely passively transferred to offspring in utero

"While the strong correlation in both the magnitude and quality of antibody levels between mothers and newborns suggests that the antibodies detected in kits were likely acquired passively from mothers, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that the vaccine administered to mothers may itself distribute to kits and actively induce antibody responses," Khandhar says.

The researchers also found that the timing of maternal vaccination was critical for maximizing antibody transfer, and subsequent vaccination in newborns maintained elevated antibody levels compared to no vaccination. In addition to optimized maternal vaccination timing, active immunization in newborns might be required for maintaining overall antibody responses in infants after birth.

The authors say more research is needed to determine whether RNA-based maternal vaccines can afford protection against infection by mother-to-child transmission.

"For instance, the immunization intervals we used were not optimized and will likely not translate to humans due to differences in the gestation periods between rabbits and humans," Khandhar says.

"Further studies will be needed to test boosting intervals and the durability of antibody responses to maximize passive antibody transfer to newborns."

"Lastly, additional studies designed to measure safety signals in maternal and neonatal models will be needed before advancing to clinical evaluation."

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases partly supported this research. In addition, several co-authors have an equity interest in HDT Bio and are listed as inventors on patents covering the LIONTM formulation.

Note: As of March 30, 2023, two mRNA vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials focused on the Zika virus.

Sub Title:

RNA vaccination in rabbit mothers confers benefits to offspring in the womb

References:

RNA vaccination in rabbit mothers confers benefits to offspring in the womb

Evaluation of repRNA vaccine for induction and in utero transfer of maternal antibodies in a pregnant rabbit model

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by Rajesh Balouria

Travelers Bring Zika To Hungary

Karen McClorey Hackett — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:51:02 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

The National Reference Laboratory of Viral Zoonoses of the National Center for Public Health in Hungary recently confirmed two imported Zika virus infections.

As of February 27, 2023, these travelers had visited Thailand and survived the infection with mild symptoms.

Furthermore, no Zika cases of domestic origin occurred have been reported as of March 22, 2023.

Therefore, Hungary says the Zika virus does not pose a domestic epidemic risk.

The Zika virus is a pathogen found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, America, Asia, and the Pacific Ocean, primarily spread by mosquito bites.

The virus has been known to circulate in Thailand for over sixty years, but little is known about how it got here.

Still, the infection can also be transmitted sexually or from a pregnant mother to her fetus.

Tropical areas are increasingly popular holiday destinations among the Hungarian population.

Since there is no vaccine or drug therapy available against the Zika virus, it is essential to protect yourself against the bites of mosquitoes that spread the virus when traveling to tropical and subtropical regions.

If travelers returning from the affected area experience symptoms consistent with Zika virus infection appearing within three weeks of arrival, please consult a doctor and mention the location of their trip.

Screening tests are available for a fee at the National Center for Public Health; in the case of screening for asymptomatic infection, after a minimum of 4 weeks after returning home, and in the case of pregnancy, a screening test must be carried out in the context of suspected Zika virus infection in the context of care.

Sub Title:

Hungary has not reported domestic Zika virus infections

Reference:

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN HUNGARY

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by Stefano Ferrario

Caribbean Countries Confront Zika Outbreaks in 2023

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 17:57:37 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

As international travelers seek out warm Caribbean beaches in 2023, they may find an unwanted disease never was eradicated.

On certain Caribbean Islands, visitors are reminded about the ZIKA virus (ZIKV) risk in tropical climates.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) weekly report updated on January 28, 2023, Barbados had the highest cumulative incidence rate and reported a 0.005 % case fatality rate in 2022.

Other ZIKV outbreak countries connected to the Caribbean Sea were Puerto Rico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.

During 2021, the most Zika cases were reported in Brazil, Guatemala, and Paraguay.

ZIKV is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes that bite but can be transmitted from one infected person to another through sexual contact.

Most people infected with ZIKV will not have any symptoms or just mild symptoms, says the PAHO.

However, the virus can be passed from an infected mother to her developing baby during pregnancy, which may result in severe congenital disabilities, including microcephaly.

Since no Zika vaccine candidates are approved for use as of January 28, 2023, a comprehensive risk assessment should be undertaken for pregnant women visiting areas with ZIKV transmission.

And a new, innovative device developed at the University of Florida (UF) for the U.S. military may protect from mosquitos for an extended period from the organic insecticide Transfluthrin considered safe for humans and animals.

UF test results showed the controlled release of the repellent Transfluthrin, effectively preventing multiple species of mosquitos from entering the testing site.

“Our device eliminates the need for applying topical repellents and for insecticides that are sprayed across an open area, which can contaminate surrounding plants or bodies of water and have a negative impact on beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies,” stated Nagarajan Rajagopal, a Ph.D. candidate in the UF’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.

“This is versatile, portable, easily deployed, and doesn’t require electricity or heat to activate the solution,” added Rajagopal in a media statement on January 27, 2023.

Updated May 10, 2023 - Reassigned domain.

Sub Title:

Zika virus confirmed in Barbados Puerto Rico Costa Rico

References:

PAHO Jan. 28, 2023 Zika report

UK Travel Zika Advice 2022

US CDC Zika sexual transmission 2023

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by Michelle Raponi

Zika Infected Individuals Have Higher Levels of Phospholipids

Donald Hackett — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 18:54:55 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The reemergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) as a global health threat in 2022 has highlighted the unmet need for ZIKV-specific vaccines.

The peer-review journal Nature Communications recently published a study focused on how ZIKV infects dendritic cells (DC), which have pivotal functions in activating innate and adaptive antiviral responses.

However, the mechanisms by which DC function is subverted to establish ZIKV infection are unclear, stated these California-based researchers on September 12, 2022.

They developed a genomics profiling method that enables discrete analysis of ZIKV-infected versus neighboring, uninfected primary human DCs to increase the sensitivity and specificity with which ZIKV-modulated pathways can be identified.

The study's results show that ZIKV infection specifically increases the expression of genes enriched for lipid metabolism-related functions.

ZIKV infection also increases the recruitment of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) transcription factors to lipid gene promoters, while pharmacologic inhibition or genetic silencing of SREBP2 suppresses ZIKV infection of DCs.

This new data identifies SREBP2-activated transcription as a mechanism for promoting ZIKV infection amenable to therapeutic targeting.

The results of the present study, together with our earlier analysis of ZIKV infection of macrophages, show that accurate identification of cellular responses to viral infection can be obscured when infected and bystander cells are analyzed together.

In summary, 'we performed unbiased genomic profiling of pure populations of ZIKV-infected moDCs and demonstrated that ZIKV infection upregulates a small set of genes that are highly enriched for lipid biosynthetic enzymes,' wrote these researchers.

This research was supported by a Career Award for Medical Scientists from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and others. The study authors declared no competing interests.

Zika vaccine candidates are posted at ZikaNews.com/Vaccines.

ZikaNews publishes fact-checked, research-based news manually curated for mobile readers.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccine candidates remain in clinical studies

Reference:

SREBP2-dependent lipid gene transcription enhances the infection of human dendritic cells by Zika virus

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Unusual Antibody Displays Ultrapotent Activity Against Zika Virus

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 19:42:22 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The peer-review journal Cell recently published a study that identifies a role for antibodies of the IgM isotype in protection against the Zika virus (ZIKV) and posits it is a safe and compelling candidate for immunotherapeutic, particularly during pregnancy.

Because ZIKV can cause congenital disabilities when passed to a fetus, this discovery could lead to the development of therapies to protect babies from the potentially devastating effects of this mosquito-borne disease.

This finding is essential since congenital ZIKV infections result in neurodevelopmental deficits in up to 14% of infants born to ZIKV-infected mothers.

Furthermore, the U.S. FDA has not approved a ZIKV vaccine candidate as of December 6, 2022.

Neutralizing antibodies are a critical component of protective immunity, stated researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian and National Institutes of Health investigators.

From a ZIKV-infected pregnant woman, they isolated a pentameric ZIKV-specific IgM (DH1017.IgM) that exhibited ultrapotent ZIKV neutralization dependent on the IgM isotype.

They demonstrated that plasma IgM contributes to ZIKV immunity in pregnancy, mediating neutralization up to three months post-symptoms.

DH1017.IgM targets an envelope dimer epitope within domain II. The epitope arrangement on the virion is compatible with the concurrent engagement of all ten antigen-binding sites of DH1017.IgM, as a solution not available to IgG.

DH1017.IgM protected mice against viremia upon lethal ZIKV challenge more efficiently than when expressed as an IgG.

According to the study co-senior author Dr. Sallie Permar, the important thing is that we've got to be ready for another outbreak of Zika.

At this point, doctors have no approved vaccines or treatments to offer patients. However, with further research, this antibody has the potential to help fill that gap, according to Dr. Permar.

"There are two potential ways it could be used: To quickly reduce levels of Zika in the blood of pregnant people who have become infected, or as a preventative measure given to those at risk of contracting the virus during an outbreak," stated Permar in a press release on November 18, 2022.

To develop the antibody into a real-world therapy, the researchers plan to test its safety and how effectively it can prevent transmission to a fetus in additional preclinical models.

Dr. Permar emphasized that when human studies for new preventive or therapeutic treatments are done for Zika, they must be included. "Pregnant women, the population that needs vaccines or immunotherapies for Zika."

"It's crucial to get anti-Zika vaccines and therapies that are safe in pregnancy rolled out as soon as there is evidence of an outbreak."

While infected mosquitoes primarily spread ZIKV, it can also be passed during sex from a person infected with ZIKV to a sexual partner, says the U.S. CDC.

As of December 2022, Brazil, India, and Puerto Rico (15 probable) have reported Zika cases.

This research was supported by NIAID grant R21-AI123677.

Many Weill Cornell Medicine physicians and scientists maintain relationships and collaborate with external organizations to foster scientific innovation and provide expert guidance.

ZikaNews publishes fact-checked, research-based news manually curated for mobile readers.

Sub Title:

Zika virus-specific IgM elicited in pregnancy exhibits ultrapotent neutralization

References:

Zika virus-specific IgM elicited in pregnancy exhibits ultrapotent neutralization

Zika: Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian and NIH investigators

Neutralizing Zika virus

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Zika-Infected Children Display Neuro-Developmental Differences

Karen McClorey Hackett — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 21:57:18 +0000

Reviewer:

Holly Lutmer PharmD

Children who are exposed to the Zika virus while in their mother's womb but who are not subsequently diagnosed with Zika-related birth defects and congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) may still display differences in some aspects of cognitive development, mood and mobility compared to unexposed children, reports a study published in Pediatric Research.

It has not been clear how children exposed to the Zika virus in the womb during the 2015–2017 epidemic but who did not develop CZS, and serious neurological complications will develop as they get older.

These findings, published on November 30, 2022, suggest that Zika-exposed children may need additional support and monitoring as they age.

"There are still many unanswered questions about the long-term impacts of Zika on children exposed in utero," says Sarah Mulkey, M.D., Ph.D., a prenatal-neonatal neurologist in the Prenatal Pediatrics Institute at Children's National Hospital and the study's first author, in a related press release.

"These findings are another piece of the puzzle that provides insight into the long-term neurodevelopment of children with prenatal Zika virus exposure."

"Further evaluation is needed as these children get older."

Dr. Mulkey and colleagues examined the neurodevelopment of 55 children aged 3-5 years exposed to Zika in the womb in Sabanalarga, Colombia, and compared them to 70 control children aged 4-5 years who had not been exposed to Zika.

Any child born in Colombia during ZIKV endemicity could be ZIKV exposed, so they included only controls with older birth dates.

Health professionals tested the children's motor skills (such as manual dexterity, aiming and catching, and balance) and readiness for school (including knowledge of colors, letters, numbers, and shapes).

Parents completed three questionnaires providing information about their child's cognitive function (such as memory and emotional control), behavioral and physical conditions (such as responsibility and mobility), and parenting experience (including whether they felt distressed).

Parents of Zika-exposed children reported significantly lower levels of mobility and responsibility than control children, although differences in cognitive function scores were insignificant.

Additionally, parents of 6 (11%) Zika-exposed children reported mood problems compared to 1 (1%) of control children, and Zika-exposed parents were significantly more likely to report parental distress.

Professional testing revealed no significant differences in the Zika-exposed children's manual dexterity, such as their ability to catch an object or post a coin through a slot, compared to the control children.

Both Zika-exposed and control children also scored lowly on readiness for school.

The authors highlight that parental responses may have been influenced by the Zika-exposed children's parents' perceptions or increased worry about their child's development.

The age may have also caused some differences in results – and therefore developmental – differences between the groups of children.

The study authors conclude that while these Zika-exposed children are making progress as they develop, they may need additional support as they prepare to start school.

The study was supported by the Thrasher Research Fund. S.B.M. has additional funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health and a contract with the U.S. CDC.

Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., was established in 1870 to help every child grow stronger. Today, it is the No. 5 children's hospital in the nation. In addition, it is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the sixth straight year.

As of November 30, 2022, the U.S. FDA has not approved a Zike-preventive vaccine. However, several vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials.

ZikaNews publishes fact-checked, research-based news manually curated for mobile readers.

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Preschool neurodevelopment in Zika exposed children

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Preschool neurodevelopment in Zika virus-exposed children

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