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Spondweni virus (SPOV) is the flavivirus that is most closely related to Zika virus (ZIKV). Although SPOV causes sporadic human infections in Africa, recently it was found in Culex mosquitoes in Haiti. To investigate the pathogenic spectrum of SPOV, we developed infection models in mice. Although two SPOV strains failed to cause disease in immunocompetent mice, each accumulated in the brain, spleen, eye, testis, and kidney when type I interferon signaling was blocked and unexpectedly caused infection, immune cell infiltration, and swelling in the ankle. In pregnant mice, SPOV replicated in the placenta and fetus but did not cause placental insufficiency or microcephaly. We identified human antibodies from ZIKV or DENV immune subjects that neutralized SPOV infection and protected against lethal challenge. Our experiments describe similarities and differences in clinical syndromes between SPOV and ZIKV and suggest that their serological relatedness has implications for antibody therapeutics and flavivirus vaccine development.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.celrep.2019.01.052

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cell reports

Publication Date

02/2019

Volume

26

Pages

1585 - 1597.e4

Addresses

Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.

Keywords

Cells, Cultured, Animals, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Humans, Mice, Dengue Virus, Flavivirus Infections, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibodies, Viral, Cross Reactions, Female, Male, Antibodies, Neutralizing, Zika Virus