Scientific Reports (Dec 2023)

Plant-expressed Zika virus envelope protein elicited protective immunity against the Zika virus in immunocompetent mice

  • Minna Shin,
  • Hyangju Kang,
  • Kyeong ryeol Shin,
  • Rangyeon Lee,
  • Kiju Kim,
  • Kyungmin Min,
  • Kyou-Nam Cho,
  • Eun-Ju Sohn,
  • Kwang Sung Kim,
  • Seok-Hyun Kim,
  • Yang Je Cho,
  • Jeongho Park,
  • Tae-Wook Hahn

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47428-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Abstract Zika virus infection causes multiple clinical issues, including Guillain–Barré syndrome and neonatal malformation. Vaccination is considered as the only strategy for the prevention of ZIKV-induced clinical issues. This study developed a plant-based recombinant vaccine that transiently expressed the ZIKV envelope protein (ZikaEnv:aghFc) in Nicotiana benthamiana and evaluated the protective immunity afforded by it in immunocompetent mice. ZikaEnv:aghFc induced both humoral and cellular immunity at a low dose (1–5 μg). This immune-inducing potential was enhanced further when adjuvanted CIA09A. In addition, antigen-specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies were vertically transferred from immunized females to their progeny and afforded both protective immunity to ZIKV and cross-protection to Dengue virus infection. These results suggest that our plant-based ZIKV vaccine provides a safe and efficient protective strategy with a competitive edge.