Chimeric Dengue/Zika Viruses for Live-Attenuated Zika Vaccine Development
CDC engineered chimeric Zika viruses on the dengue virus (DENV) sub-type 2 (D2) PDK-53 vaccine backbone (D2 PDK-53) for potential development of a live-attenuated Zika vaccine. These chimeric viruses could also be used for other research purposes such as development of diagnostic tests. The cDNA genetic clones for the chimeric constructs have been successfully engineered, and scientists in the laboratory are in the process of deriving infectious chimeric D2 PDK-53/Zika viruses.
- Zika vaccine development or combined vaccination strategies using both live-attenuated and inactivated ZIKV vaccine (West Nile/ZKV) candidates
- Combination vaccine with other flaviviruses such as dengue or chikungunya
- Zika virus diagnostics
- Zika virus-related biomedical research
- Potential inclusion in combination flavivirus vaccines
- Faster production of Zika-like viruses for more efficient use in different applications such as vaccine candidate and diagnostic development