Zika virus infection during
pregnancy can cause
congenital abnormities or
fetal demise. The persistence of
Zika virus in the
male reproductive system poses a
risk of sexual
transmission. Here we demonstrate that live-attenuated
Zika virus vaccine candidates containing deletions in the
3' untranslated region of the
Zika virus genome (
ZIKV-
3'UTR-LAV) prevent viral
transmission during
pregnancy and
testis damage in
mice, as well as
infection of nonhuman
primates. After a single-
dose vaccination, pregnant
mice challenged with
Zika virus at embryonic day 6 and evaluated at embryonic day 13 show markedly diminished levels of
viral RNA in maternal, placental, and
fetal tissues. Vaccinated
male mice challenged with
Zika virus were protected against
testis infection,
injury, and
oligospermia. A single
immunization of
rhesus macaques elicited a rapid and robust
antibody response, conferring complete
protection upon challenge. Furthermore, the
ZIKV-
3'UTR-LAV
vaccine candidates have a desirable
safety profile. These results suggest that further development of
ZIKV-
3' UTR-LAV is warranted for
humans.