B-cell epitope sequences from Zika virus (ZIKV) NS1 protein have been identified using epitope prediction tools. Mapping these sequences onto the NS1 surface reveals two major conformational epitopes and a single linear one. Despite an overall average sequence identity of ca. 55% between the NS1 from ZIKV and the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes, epitope sequences were found to be highly conserved. Nevertheless, nonconserved epitope-flanking residues are responsible for a dramatically divergent electrostatic surface potential on the epitope regions of ZIKV and DENV2 serotypes. These findings suggest that strategies for differential diagnostics on the basis of short linear NS1 sequences are likely to fail due to immunological cross-reactions. Overall, results provide the molecular basis of differential discrimination between Zika and DENVs by NS1 monoclonal antibodies.

Within this study, a novel highthroughput peptide array technology enabled the correlation between the clinical phenotype and the antibody response against linear epitopes of the P. falciparum proteome. Peptides from twelve known vaccine candidates and a bioinformatical selection were screened. Strong reactivities to epitopes derived from known vaccine candidates as well as new immunogenic proteins/epitopes were identified, which may serve as vaccine targets and new biomarkers.