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Semen inhibits Zika virus infection of cells and tissues from the anogenital region

Author

Listed:
  • Janis A. Müller

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Mirja Harms

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Franziska Krüger

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Rüdiger Groß

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Simone Joas

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Manuel Hayn

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Andrea N. Dietz

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Sina Lippold

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Jens von Einem

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Axel Schubert

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Manuela Michel

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Benjamin Mayer

    (Ulm University)

  • Mirko Cortese

    (Heidelberg University)

  • Karen S. Jang

    (Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology
    University of California, San Francisco)

  • Nathallie Sandi-Monroy

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Miriam Deniz

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Florian Ebner

    (Ulm University Medical Center
    Helios Amper Klinik)

  • Olli Vapalahti

    (University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital
    University of Helsinki)

  • Markus Otto

    (Ulm University)

  • Ralf Bartenschlager

    (Heidelberg University
    Heidelberg University)

  • Jean-Philippe Herbeuval

    (Université Paris Descartes, CICB Paris)

  • Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit

    (World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research
    Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel)

  • Nadia R. Roan

    (Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology
    University of California, San Francisco)

  • Jan Münch

    (Ulm University Medical Center
    Ulm University Medical Center)

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes severe birth defects and can be transmitted via sexual intercourse. Semen from ZIKV-infected individuals contains high viral loads and may therefore serve as an important vector for virus transmission. Here we analyze the effect of semen on ZIKV infection of cells and tissues derived from the anogenital region. ZIKV replicates in all analyzed cell lines, primary cells, and endometrial or vaginal tissues. However, in the presence of semen, infection by ZIKV and other flaviviruses is potently inhibited. We show that semen prevents ZIKV attachment to target cells, and that an extracellular vesicle preparation from semen is responsible for this anti-ZIKV activity. Our findings suggest that ZIKV transmission is limited by semen. As such, semen appears to serve as a protector against sexual ZIKV transmission, despite the availability of highly susceptible cells in the anogenital tract and high viral loads in this bodily fluid.

Suggested Citation

  • Janis A. Müller & Mirja Harms & Franziska Krüger & Rüdiger Groß & Simone Joas & Manuel Hayn & Andrea N. Dietz & Sina Lippold & Jens von Einem & Axel Schubert & Manuela Michel & Benjamin Mayer & Mirko , 2018. "Semen inhibits Zika virus infection of cells and tissues from the anogenital region," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04442-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04442-y
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