Development and characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies targeting to distinct epitopes of Zika virus envelope protein for specific detection of Zika virus.

The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic poses a serious threat to global health due to its association with microcephaly and congenital diseases in newborns and neurological complications and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. However, the majority of people infected with ZIKV do not develop symptoms. The platforms aimed to specifically diagnose ZIKV infection are needed for patient care and public health surveillance. In the study, four ZIKV envelope (E) protein-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (A1, B1, C1, and 9E-1) have been developed by using the conventional mAb technology. The binding epitopes of mAbs A1, B1, C1, and 9E-1 are located at E(238-257), E(410-431), E(258-277), and E(340-356), respectively. mAb 9E-1 performs 1.4- to 47-fold strong affinity to ZIKV E protein compared to another three mAbs. mAbs A1, C1, and 9E-1 do not have cross-reactivity against the recombinant E proteins of dengue virus serotypes 2, 3, and 4. Although these four mAbs do not have ZIKV neutralizing activity, mAbs B1 and 9E-1 have been developed as the lateral flow immunochromatographic assay for specific detection of ZIKV E protein and virions. KEY POINTS: • The mAbs targeting to the regions of E(238-257), E(410-431), E(258-277), and E(340-356) do not have ZIKV neutralizing activity. • The binding epitope of mAb 9E-1 is highly specific to ZIKV E protein. • mAbs B1 and 9E-1 can bind to ZIKV virions and have been developed as the lateral flow immunochromatographic assay.