anti-Zika Virus Envelope Protein (EIII domain), mAb (rec.) (neutralizing) (ZKA64) (preservative free)

The main route of Zika Virus (ZIKV) infection is through bites by Aedes mosquitos, but the virus may also be sexually and vertically transmitted. Although most of the ZIKV infections are asymptomatic or cause only mild symptoms, there is evidence that ZIKV infection can lead to neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and congenital birth defects, including microcephaly in the developing fetus, likely through its ability to infect human neural progenitor cells. Whereas flavivirus envelope (E) proteins mediate fusion and are the main target of neutralizing antibodies, the non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted by infected cells and is involved in immune evasion and pathogenesis. The E protein contains three domains: EDI involved in the conformational changes required for viral entry; EDII containing the fusion loop; and EDIII which may be involved in binding to cellular receptors. The best specific neutralizing antibodies to ZIKV are directed against the domain EDIII of ZIKV.