Progress in Zika virus and its vaccines

Abstract:

Like Yellow fever virus, Dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and West Nile virus, Zika virus is also a mosquito-borne flavivirus. Since it was isolated in 1947, there has been little concern over Zika virus due to its limited distribution and mild symptoms. In recent years, especially since 2015, Zika virus has become a global concern because of its outbreak in Brazil and associated microcephaly. Vaccines against Zika virus, regarded as the effective measures to control Zika fever epidemic, are being developed in nearly thirty institutions worldwide. In this paper, biology, epidemiology and clinical features of Zika virus were reviewed along with current research and development of different types of Zika vaccines. In addition, several other flavivirus vaccines approved or in clinical trials were briefly introduced, to provide valuable reference for Zika vaccines researchers.