Evaluation of an engineered zika virus-like particle vaccine candidate in a mosquito-mouse transmission model

Abstract

The primary route of Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission is through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, when it probes the skin of a vertebrate host during a blood meal. Viral particles are injected into the bite site together with mosquito saliva and a complex mixture of other components. Some of them are known to play a key role in the augmentation of the arbovirus infection in the host, with increased viremia and/or morbidity. This vector-derived contribution to the infection is not usually considered when vaccine candidates are tested in preclinical animal models. In this study, we performed a preclinical validation of a promising ZIKV vaccine candidate in a mosquito-mouse transmission model using both Asian and African ZIKV lineages. Mice were immunized with engineered ZIKV virus-like particles and subsequently infected through the bite of ZIKV-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Despite a mild increase in viremia in mosquito-infected mice compared to those infected through traditional needle injection, the vaccine protected the animals from developing the disease and strongly reduced viremia. In addition, during peak viremia, naive mosquitoes were allowed to feed on infected vaccinated and nonvaccinated mice. Our analysis of viral titers in mosquitos showed that the vaccine was able to inhibit virus transmission from the host to the vector.

Autori

Maria Vittoria Mancini, Rapeepat Tandavanitj, Thomas H Ant, Shivan M Murdochy, Daniel D Gingell, Chayanee Setthapramote, Piyatida Natsrita, Alain Kohl, Steven P Sinkins, Arvind H Patel, Giuditta De Lorenzo

Rivista

Msphere

Data di pubblicazione

20/04/2023

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