ZIKV-Specific NS1 Epitopes as Serological Markers of Acute Zika Virus Infection

J Infect Dis. 2019 Jun 19;220(2):203-212. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiz092.

Abstract

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infections have reemerged as a global health issue due to serious clinical complications. Development of specific serological assays to detect and differentiate ZIKV from other cocirculating flaviviruses for accurate diagnosis remains a challenge.

Methods: We investigated antibody responses in 51 acute ZIKV-infected adult patients from Campinas, Brazil, including 7 pregnant women who later delivered during the study. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, levels of antibody response were measured and specific epitopes identified.

Results: Several antibody-binding hot spots were identified in ZIKV immunogenic antigens, including membrane, envelope (E) and nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). Interestingly, specific epitopes (2 from E and 2 from NS1) strongly recognized by ZIKV-infected patients' antibodies were identified and were not cross-recognized by dengue virus (DENV)-infected patients' antibodies. Corresponding DENV peptides were not strongly recognized by ZIKV-infected patients' antibodies. Notably, ZIKV-infected pregnant women had specific epitope recognition for ZIKV NS1 (amino acid residues 17-34), which could be a potential serological marker for early ZIKV detection.

Conclusions: This study identified 6 linear ZIKV-specific epitopes for early detection of ZIKV infections. We observed differential epitope recognition between ZIKV-infected and DENV-infected patients. This information will be useful for developing diagnostic methods that differentiate between closely related flaviviruses.

Keywords: Zika virus; antibody response; epitopes; pregnant women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Brazil
  • Cross Reactions / immunology
  • Dengue / immunology
  • Dengue / virology
  • Dengue Virus / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Serologic Tests
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / immunology*
  • Young Adult
  • Zika Virus / immunology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / immunology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins