# Defining the Prevalence and Viral Genetics of Zika Virus in Kenya

> **NIH NIH F30** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $40,181

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
 The recent unprecedented spread and severe pathogenic features of Zika virus in the Americas have
highlighted this emerging pathogen as a major threat to global public health. Substantial efforts have been
devoted to examining novel aspects of Zika virus transmission and pathogenesis in the Americas. However,
these studies are limited by the lack of Zika virus data from Africa, where the virus was discovered over 70
years ago and is believed to have been silently circulating for decades. Due to the non-specific clinical
symptoms of Zika virus infection, temporal challenges of detecting Zika virus RNA, the lack of reliable
serological methods to specifically detect Zika virus antibodies, and little concern about this virus until 2014,
only 11 human Zika virus infections confirmed by virus isolation or molecular detection of Zika virus RNA have
been reported in Africa since its discovery in Uganda in 1947. Further, only five partial-genome sequences and
one complete-genome lab-passaged isolate have been documented, all of which derive from human infections
in West Africa. A more complete picture of Zika virus population-level exposure and viral genetics from Africa is
needed to define the contribution of these factors to the recent emergence and pathogensis of Zika virus, as
well as to address the impact of continuous circulation of Zika virus in Africa. This proposal utilizes a unique set
of samples collected from two cohorts in Kenya over a 25-year period to address the hypothesis that Zika virus
has been continuously circulating in East Africa. In individuals who experience symptoms characteristic of Zika
virus infection (fever and/or rash), sera collected at the time of acute febrile illness as well as 2-12 months
post-onset of symptoms will allow for studies of both Zika virus seroprevalence and viral genetics in Kenya.
The first part of this proposal utilizes an exciting, highly-scalable serological screening approach (PhIP-seq) to
identify and distinguish Zika virus-specific IgG antibody responses in non-human primates who have been
experimentally infected with Zika virus or Dengue virus, an antigenically-related flavivirus. In the second part of
this proposal, Kenyan sera collected 2-12 months post-onset of symptoms, when Zika virus-specific IgG
antibodies should be present, will be screened using PhIP-seq to reveal the seroprevalence of Zika virus
infections as well as other viral causes of acute febrile illness in these Kenyan cohorts. Lastly, the third part of
this proposal will define for the first time the phylogenetic characteristics of circulating strains in Kenya by
directly sequencing Zika virus RNA in Kenyan samples collected during acute febrile illness. Understanding the
extent of Zika virus transmission in Kenya will link febrile illness to this emerging pathogen and better define its
impact on morbidity. Findings from these studies will provide important insights into the roles of population
immunit...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9844853
- **Project number:** 5F30AI142870-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Theodore August Gobillot
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $40,181
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9844853

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9844853, Defining the Prevalence and Viral Genetics of Zika Virus in Kenya (5F30AI142870-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9844853. Licensed CC0.

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