Open AccessIlheus and Saint Louis encephalitis viruses elicit cross-protection against a lethal Rocio virus challenge in mice
Author(s) -
Alberto A. Amarilla,
Marcílio Jorge Fumagalli,
Mário Luis Garcia de Figueiredo,
Djalma S. Lima-Júnior,
Nilton Nascimento Santos-Júnior,
Helda Liz Alfonso,
Veronica Lippi,
Amanda Cristina Trabuco,
Flávio Lauretti,
Vanessa Danielle Menjon Müller,
David F. Colón,
João Luiz,
Andreas Suhrbier,
Yin Xiang Setoh,
Alexander A. Khromykh,
Luíz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo,
Víctor Hugo Aquino
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0199071
Subject(s) - virology , outbreak , encephalitis , serology , biology , virus , flavivirus , immunity , japanese encephalitis , viral encephalitis , encephalitis viruses , vaccination , antibody , immunology , immune system
Rocio virus (ROCV) was the causative agent of an unprecedented outbreak of encephalitis during the 1970s in the Vale do Ribeira, Sao Paulo State, in the Southeast region of Brazil. Surprisingly, no further cases of ROCV infection were identified after this outbreak; however, serological surveys have suggested the circulation of ROCV among humans and animals in different regions of Brazil. Cross-protective immunity among flaviviruses is well documented; consequently, immunity induced by infections with other flaviviruses endemic to Brazil could potentially be responsible for the lack of ROCV infections. Herein, we evaluated the cross-protection mediated by other flaviviruses against ROCV infection using an experimental C57BL/6 mouse model. Cross-protection against ROCV infection was observed when animals had prior exposure to Ilheus virus or Saint Louis encephalitis virus, suggesting that cross-reactive anti-flavivirus antibodies may limit ROCV disease outbreaks.