Cross-neutralisation of viruses of the tick-borne encephalitis complex following tick-borne encephalitis vaccination and/or infection

Abstract

Tick-borne encephalitis: One vaccine protects against multiple flaviviruses Prior exposure to tick-borne encephalitis virus confers immunity to distinct, but genetically related, significant human pathogens. The tick-borne encephalitis complex comprises multiple ‘flaviviruses’; however, a licensed vaccine only exists for one: tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Alexander McAuley, of the University of Texas Medical Branch, USA, and collaborators tested human serum samples from donors who had either received the TBEV vaccine, been infected with the virus naturally, or had contracted the virus despite prior vaccination. The team tested the sera against six genetically related flaviviruses, looking for antibodies that indicate viral immunity. The results showed that TBEV exposure induce production of antibodies that inhibit other flaviviruses, the efficacy of which decreases as the genetic variation from TBEV increases. Additionally, sera from infected individuals generated more antibodies than sera from vaccinated donors. This study provides an insight into the relationship between genetic similarity and vaccine cross-protection.