T Cell Immunity and Zika Virus Vaccine Development

Publication date: Available online 1 June 2017
Source:Trends in Immunology
Author(s): Noemia S. Lima, Morgane Rolland, Kayvon Modjarrad, Lydie Trautmann
The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic has created an urgent need for a safe and effective vaccine. There is still a dearth of knowledge about ZIKV immunity, but years of investigation into the immunobiology of other flaviviruses has helped to accelerate the development of a ZIKV vaccine. Although the humoral immune response generates the primary correlate of protection from disease, robust T cell responses could enhance ZIKV vaccine efficacy. Additionally, pre-existing immunity to related flaviviruses could generate cross-reactive T cells that may affect immune responses upon vaccination. In this review, we summarize the key discoveries in the area of flavivirus T cell immunity and postulate on how these findings can inform ZIKV vaccine strategies for inducing protective immunity.



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