# Impact of Selenium and Vitamin E Deficiency on Zika Virus Pathogenesis and Immune Response in Mice

## TL;DR

This study shows that selenium and vitamin E deficiency in mice weakens immune responses to Zika virus, leading to higher viral loads and worse outcomes.

## Contribution

The study reveals how antioxidant micronutrient deficiency affects Zika virus pathogenesis and immune response in a mouse model.

## Key findings

- Deficient diets reduced neutralizing antibodies and antiviral cytokines in mice infected with Zika virus.
- Higher viral RNA loads and increased mortality were observed in nutritionally deficient mice.
- Specific mutations in the E and NS3 genes were enriched in nutritionally deficient animals.

## Abstract

Micronutrient status is recognized to influence host susceptibility to viral infections, yet its impact on Zika virus (ZIKV) pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. We investigated the effects of dietary selenium and combined selenium plus vitamin E deficiency on ZIKV infection outcomes in a type I interferon α/β receptor knockout (Ifnar1−/−) murine model. Mice maintained on deficient diets exhibited significantly lower neutralizing antibody titers and reduced levels of key antiviral cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-12p70, CCL5) compared to controls. Correspondingly, higher viral RNA loads were detected in the brains of double-deficient mice, which also experienced greater weight loss and increased mortality. Deep sequencing revealed no major differences in overall viral genome diversity across diet groups; however, specific mutations, including V330L and D67E in the E gene, and V360I in the NS3 gene, were enriched or detected in nutritionally deficient animals. These findings suggest that antioxidant micronutrient deficiency impairs both humoral and cellular immune responses to ZIKV, potentially facilitating enhanced neuroinvasion. While the functional consequences of the identified mutations warrant further investigation, our results underscore the importance of adequate micronutrient intake for optimal antiviral defense. Further studies are needed to clarify the epidemiological significance of these observations.