Overview

More than 3 billion people are at risk of Japanese encephalitis, a viral disease that sickens an estimated 68,000 people each year, killing up to 20,400. The World Health Organization reports that of those who survive, up to 30 percent can suffer permanent neurological damage, resulting in paralysis, seizures and even inability to speak.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is spread by mosquitoes of the Culex species. The disease is endemic to 24 countries in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. As a flavivirus, JEV belongs to the same genus as dengue virus, West Nile virus, yellow fever and Zika virus.

There is no treatment for JEV infection, though some therapies can address the symptoms of the virus. There are several effective vaccines against JEV. These vaccines are routinely given to at-risk children in affected areas. Still, cases persist and scientists believe climate change will allow Culex mosquitoes to expand their range to previously unaffected areas.

Our Approach

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) are working to shape an effective vaccine strategy that addresses JEV along with other flaviviruses.

LJI Associate Professor Sujan Shresta, Ph.D., and her team are investigating what happens when a person encounters more than one flavivirus. In response to flavivirus infection or vaccination, the immune system trains antibodies to recognize viral particles. Dr. Shresta has found that antibodies trained to recognize JEV are prone to later allowing Zika virus to enter cells, resulting in a more severe Zika infection. This phenomenon is called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE).

Researchers need to address this example of ADE as they design vaccines that can be deployed in regions where JEV and Zika are both present. Dr. Shresta has shown that vaccines that prompt a strong T cell response from the immune system can counteract the effects of harmful antibodies in ADE.

LJI is also home to the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), led by LJI Professors Alessandro Sette, Dr. Biol. Sci., and Bjoern Peters, Ph.D. Scientists worldwide can use this free online resource to learn more about how the immune system reacts to JEV and many other pathogens. By understanding the immune system targets sites, or epitopes, on the virus, researchers can design more precise vaccines and therapies.

Learn more:

LJI Center for Vaccine Innovation

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