Although Zika and dengue are considered
different virus “species,” they are so closely related that the immune system
treats Zika just like another version of dengue, report researchers. Their
latest study shows that pre-existing immunity to dengue virus modulates the
magnitude and breadth of the immune system’s T cell response to Zika. Dengue comes in four serotypes and infection with one
serotype does not lead to lifelong immunity to the other three, and in reality,
the main risk factor for severe disease is a secondary infection with a different
serotype. The method is thought to be "antibody-dependent
enhancement" or ADE for short: antibodies developed against one serotype
that are unable to prevent infection with another serotype, but instead
exacerbate the second infection by helping the virus slip into immune cells. With
recent studies having shown that antibodies isolated from dengue-infected donor
could have both potent neutralizing activities against another serotype and
induce ADE, researchers explored whether similar cross-reactivity exists on the
T cell level. Since Zika and dengue co-circulate in many regions of the world,
it is critical to start exploring the protective versus potentially pathogenic
influence of T cells induced by prior dengue exposure on Zika infection. This
was tested in a mouse model, and it was found that immunization
with Zika-specific or Zika/dengue cross-reactive peptides protected mice
against subsequent infection with Zika. Further experiments also revealed that
the protection was dependent on functional T cells from previous viral
infection. Another possibility in tackling the Zika outbreak, but one that still
needs further refinement and effective implementation methods to prevent
undesired effects from using a virus to treat a virus.
-Ethan Wentworth
1 comment:
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