Publication

Title: Evidence of Zika Virus Reinfection by Genome Diversity and Antibody Response Analysis, Brazil
Authors: da Costa Castilho M, de Filippis A, Machado L, de Lima Calvanti T, Lima M, Fonseca V, Giovanetti M, Docena C, Neto A, Bôtto-Menezes C, Kara E, de La Barrera R, Modjarrad K, Giozza S, Pereira G, Alcantara L, Broutet N, Calvet G, Wallau G, Franca R.
Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases,30(2):. doi: 10.3201/eid3002.230122.: (2024)

Abstract

We generated 238 Zika virus (ZIKV) genomes from 135 persons in Brazil who had samples collected over 1 year to evaluate virus persistence. Phylogenetic inference clustered the genomes together with previously reported ZIKV strains from northern Brazil, showing that ZIKV has been remained relatively stable over time. Temporal phylogenetic analysis revealed limited within-host diversity among most ZIKV-persistent infected associated samples. However, we detected unusual virus temporal diversity from >5 persons, uncovering the existence of divergent genomes within the same patient. All those patients showed an increase in neutralizing antibody levels, followed by a decline at the convalescent phase of ZIKV infection. Of interest, in 3 of those patients, titers of neutralizing antibodies increased again after 6 months of ZIKV infection, concomitantly with real-time reverse transcription PCR re-positivity, supporting ZIKV reinfection events. Altogether, our findings provide evidence for the existence of ZIKV reinfection events.

Download: Full text paper

Citation: da Costa Castilho M, de Filippis A, Machado L, de Lima Calvanti T, Lima M, Fonseca V, Giovanetti M, Docena C, Neto A, Bôtto-Menezes C, Kara E, de La Barrera R, Modjarrad K, Giozza S, Pereira G, Alcantara L, Broutet N, Calvet G, Wallau G, Franca R. Evidence of Zika Virus Reinfection by Genome Diversity and Antibody Response Analysis, Brazil Emerging Infectious Diseases,30(2):. doi: 10.3201/eid3002.230122.: (2024).


KRISP has been created by the coordinated effort of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the South African Medical Research Countil (SAMRC).


Location: K-RITH Tower Building
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, UKZN
719 Umbilo Road, Durban, South Africa.
Director: Prof. Tulio de Oliveira