Figure 1.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection induces robust, cross-protective T cell immunity. In both humans and mice, ZIKV infection leads to the generation of Th1 CD4 T cell and effector CD8 T cell responses, which preferentially target epitopes in non-structural and structural proteins, respectively. Studies have shown that immunity to ZIKV is cross-protective against subsequent Dengue virus (DENV) challenge, and vice-versa. Although studies suggest CD8 T cells may contribute to immunopathogenesis in neonatal and adult mice, with CD4 T cells playing a potential regulatory role, this remains to be determined during human infection.