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Potential role of heterologous flavivirus immunity in preventing urban transmission of yellow fever virus

Authors :
Divya P. Shinde
Jessica A. Plante
Dionna Scharton
Brooke Mitchell
Jordyn Walker
Sasha R. Azar
Rafael K. Campos
Lívia Sacchetto
Betânia P. Drumond
Nikos Vasilakis
Kenneth S. Plante
Scott C. Weaver
Source :
Nature Communications, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Nature Portfolio, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract During the recent yellow fever (YF) epidemics in Brazil, human cases were attributed to spillover infections via sylvatic mosquito transmission. Despite YF virus (YFV) transmission in major urban centers with insufficient vaccination coverage and abundant populations of the domestic vector, Aedes aegypti, there was no evidence of human-amplified transmission. Furthermore, the historic absence of YF in Asia, despite abundant Ae. aegypti and an immunologically naive human population, is unexplained. We tested the hypothesis that pre-existing, heterologous flavivirus immunity, specifically from dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses, limits YFV viremia and transmission by Ae. aegypti. We infected cynomolgus macaques with DENV or ZIKV, then challenged them 6–9 months later with YFV. We then measured viremia and disease and allowed Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to feed during peak macaque viremia. Although prior heterologous immunity had variable effects on disease, DENV and ZIKV immunity consistently suppressed YFV viremia. Despite no statistical difference due to a small sample size, the suppression in viremia led to a significant reduction in Ae. aegypti infection and a lack of transmission potential. These results support the hypothesis that, in DENV- and ZIKV-endemic regions such as South America and Asia, human flavivirus immunity suppresses YFV human amplification potential, reducing the risk of urban outbreaks.

Subjects

Subjects :
Science

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20411723
Volume :
15
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Nature Communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.8cadf7cb3c2a4f769d8677035a9297bc
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54146-9