Construction and application of infectious cDNA clone, subgenomic replicon and packaging system for Zika virus and Dengue virus

Flaviviruses pose a significant global health threat due to their rapid spread and potential to cause severe clinical manifestations. Comprehending the mechanisms of replication of these pathogens and developing effective antiviral strategies are essential for combating these pathogens. In the present study, full-length infectious cDNA clones were generated for Zika virus (ZIKV) and Dengue virus (DENV), respectively. Recombinant viruses were successfully produced by transfecting cDNA clone plasmids. Using the infectious clone, ZIKV and DENV subgenomic replicons were also generated, which lack the prM-E gene and instead expressing a luciferase or fluorescent marker (OXGFP or mCherry). The replicons exhibited efficient replication in BHK-21 cells. Through the utilization of ZIKV and DENV-2 replicons that express luciferase, three potential antiviral agents were identified. These agents demonstrated activity against DENV-2 and ZIKV, while not inducing significant cytotoxic effects. This demonstrates the significance of these replicons in the screening of antiviral agents. Moreover, DENV-2 and ZIKV single-round infectious particles (SRIPs) were produced by co-transfecting packaging plasmids and replicons into BHK-21 cells. The packaging assay demonstrated that flaviviruses can utilize the prM-E protein from other species to generate SRIPs. The specific binding of the nucleocapsid (NC) to the prM-E protein varies among different flaviviruses. The reverse genetics tools established in this study will facilitate research on DENV-2 and ZIKV virus replication and the development of antiviral medications targeting these two arboviruses.