CD8+ lymphocytes modulate Zika virus dynamics and tissue dissemination and orchestrate antiviral immunity

CD8+ lymphocytes are critically important in the control of viral infections, but their roles in acute Zika virus (ZIKV) infection remain incompletely explored in a model sufficiently similar to humans immunologically. Here, we use CD8+ lymphocyte depletion to dissect acute immune responses in adult male rhesus and cynomolgus macaques infected with ZIKV. CD8 depletion delayed serum viremia and dysregulated patterns of innate immune cell homing and monocyte-driven transcriptional responses in the blood. CD8-depleted macaques also showed evidence of compensatory adaptive immune responses, with elevated Th1 activity and persistence of neutralizing antibodies beyond the clearance of serum viremia. The absence of CD8+ lymphocytes increased viral burdens in lymphatic tissues, semen, and cerebrospinal fluid, and neural lesions were also evident in both CD8-depleted rhesus macaques. Together, these data support a role for CD8+ lymphocytes in the control of ZIKV dissemination and in maintaining immune regulation during acute infection of nonhuman primates.