It was confirmed this year that Zika virus infection during pregnancy can affect the developing fetus, causing babies to be born with a smaller-than-normal head. Now, researchers say they have identified a human antibody that could stop the infection in its tracks.
Zika is a virus most commonly spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Though people who are infected by this do not experience any illness, some may experience fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain, headache and conjunctivitis. These symtoms may last no longer than one week and are often not severe. However, for a pregnant woman if infected it can have severe consequences.
In February of this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and should be considered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. At present, there is no vaccine against Zika; the only way for expectant mothers to protect themselves against the virus is to avoid mosquito bites.
Now, researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN, say they have uncovered a naturally occurring antibody called ZIKV-177 that could protect the developing fetus from Zika virus, bring us closer to a Zika vaccine. Their findings were recently published in the journal Nature.
The researchers isolated 29 anti-Zika antibodies from the blood samples and tested each one on different strains of Zika. They identified one antibody - ZIKV-177 - that effectively neutralized five Zika strains. Next, Dr. Diamond and team set out to investigate whether ZIKV-177 might be effective against Zika virus in animal models. The researchers administered the antibody to pregnant mice, either 1 day before or 1 day after they were infected with Zika virus.
In both cases, researchers found that ZIKV-177 reduced levels of Zika virus in pregnant mice and their fetuses, compared with pregnant mice that were not given the antibody.
"We did not see any damage to the fetal blood vessels, thinning of the placenta or any growth restriction in the fetuses of the antibody-treated mice," notes study co-author Indira Mysorekar, Ph.D., an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and pathology and immunology at Washington.
"The anti-Zika antibodies are able to keep the fetus safe from harm by blocking the virus from crossing the placenta," she adds.
"These naturally occurring human antibodies isolated from humans represent the first medical intervention that prevents Zika infection and damage to fetuses. We're excited because the data suggests we may have antibody treatments in hand that could be developed for use in pregnant women." Study co-author James Crowe Jr., Vanderbilt Vaccine Center.
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