McAuley et al.
Cross-neutralization of viruses of the tick-borne encephalitis complex following tick-borne encephalitis vaccination and/or infection.
npj Vaccines 2017; 2:5; doi:10.1038/s41541-017-0009-5

Studies investigating cross-protection, following vaccination with commercial vaccines against TBE complex viruses, have been limited. Here, it was shown that sera from individuals vaccinated with TBE vaccine, from naturally infected persons and from TBE vaccine breakthrough patients, are all capable to neutralize Kaynasur forest disease virus (KFDV) and Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV), but not Powassan virus. Former formalin-inactivated mouse brain derived TBE vaccines have had minimal neutralizing cross-protecting activity and a tissue culture derived KFDV vaccine had also shown only limited neutralizing capacity. These results show that TBE vaccination may be appropriate for providing protection against other tick-borne flaviviruses in high-risk individuals, but responses to vaccination may be highly variable. This publication is also of interest in the context of the recently discussed potential spread of exotic flaviviruses by migrating birds (snapshot week 17).

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