Most importantly, the miRNA-targeted C/3′NCR-mir(T) vaccine candidate virus retained the ability to replicate in serum and peripheral tissues of mice and rhesus monkeys during the early course of infection (Fig. 5, 6) and induced a strong NA response against ZIKV, which was sufficient to completely protect the immunized animals against challenge with wt ZIKV virus (Fig. 5, 6, Supplementary Fig. 13). This evidence concerns the gene XK and infection.