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An effective dengue vaccine should ideally induce broadly neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses against all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes. We characterized the specificity and breadth of the nAb response to TAK-003, a live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine, in serum samples from phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. Microneutralization tests using post-vaccination serum showed comparable neutralization against diverse DENV-1−4 genotypes. Reporter virus particle neutralization assays post- depletion of anti-DENV-2 nAbs demonstrated that the nAb response to DENV-1, -3 and -4 comprises both type-specific (TS) and cross-reactive (CR) nAbs. Therefore, TAK-003 induces broad tetravalent TS and CR nAb responses.

ZIKV is a global health concern against which no vaccine or therapeutics are available. We characterized eight novel rabbit monoclonal antibodies recognizing ZIKV envelope and prM proteins and studied the relationship between somatic hypermutation of complementarity-determining regions, framework regions, mutations, antibody specificity, binding, and neutralizing activity.

After the 2001 occurrence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Wisconsin (WI), we collected sera, during 2003-2006, from south-central WI mesopredators. We tested these sera to determine WNV antibody prevalence and geometric mean antibody titer (GMAT). Four-fold higher antibody prevalence and 2-fold higher GMAT in 2003-2004 indicated greater exposure of mesopredators to WNV during the apparent epizootic phase. The period 2005-2006 was likely the enzootic phase because WNV antibody prevalence fell to a level similar to other flaviviruses. Our results suggest that, in mesopredators, vector-borne transmission is the primary route of infection and WNV antibodies persist for < 1 year. Mesopredators may be sensitive indicators of West Nile virus spill-over into humans and horses. Mesopredator sero-surveys may complement dead crow surveillance by providing additional data for the timing of public health interventions. Research is needed to clarify the dynamics of WNV infection in these mammals and their role as potential WNV amplifiers.

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