ZIKA VIRUS NS1 PROTEINS (UGANDA/SURINAME STRAINS DUO PACK)

Zika virus NS1 protein 1 (Non-Structural protein 1) has been manufactured in response to the unmet need for highly purified, concentrated protein for use in serological based diagnostic assays. Zika virus NS1 protein is engineered in human cells using state-of-the-art expression and purification techniques.

Each pack contains:

• 1 vial of ZIKV-NS1 from strain Uganda MR766.
• 1 vial of ZIKVSU-NS1 from strain Suriname Z110603.

Zika virus NS1 proteins have been produced to the same standards as other Native Antigen Company NS1 proteins, and are presented as highly purified liquid proteins.

BACKGROUND

Zika virus is an emerging disease that is spread by Aedes mosquitoes. The virus was first isolated in Central Africa, and has since spread to South Asia and more recently to South America. It is a member of the flavivirus family, and is structurally closely related to viruses such as Dengue Fever Virus. Outbreaks were reported in Micronesia in 2007 and in Brazil in 2015, confirming at least 13 autochthonous infections. The Zika virus outbreak in Brazil in 2016 has gained world-wide attention, and has been linked to an increasing number of microcephaly cases. In April 2016 the Centers for Disease Control, in the USA, confirmed the link between Zika virus infection of the fetus with microcephaly.

Clinically Zika virus can cause mild fever, rash, myalgia, arthralgia and headaches, with one in four infected individuals being asymptomatic. Due to similar symptoms Zika virus infected individuals can easily be mis-diagnosed as a dengue infection and vice-versa. In addition, Zika virus has been implicated in causing microcephaly through transmission in utero. There is no vaccine or specific treatment available for Zika virus.

Analysis of Zika virus sequences from infected patients have shown that the strain circulating in South America in 2015 is most closely related to the strains circulating in Asia during outbreaks in 2007 and 2013-14. The South American strain was first isolated and sequenced from a patient in Suriname, and hence is known as the Zika Suriname strain. The Zika virus NS1 protein in the Suriname strain differs slightly from that in the “original” strain isolated in Uganda in 1947. The Native Antigen Company are pleased to make available Zika Virus NS1 protein from both the Suriname and Uganda strains, enabling researchers to carefully study the differences between the two antigens and the host response to them. The combination pack offers a price advantage in comparison to purchasing the antigens separately.