Dengue Virus

Dengue Virus

Dengue virus (DENV) is a worldwide threat to many tropical and developing areas. This emerging disease causes hemorrhagic fever and shock if not cared for properly (Vervaekel et al, 2012). Low key infections of dengue may go unnoticed but advanced infections may occur, with debilitating symptoms. One of the bigger issues with treating dengue is the fact that there are four different serotypes. The disease is transmitted via several species of mosquitoes whose habitat is between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. Many efforts are being made to destroy the habitat of the virus’s vector but more steps must be taken in reference to vaccines and therapy.

DENV belongs to a family of virus named flaviviruses, a subset of enveloped viruses. These viruses are polygonal, with 20 sides made of a network of envelope (E) proteins of 500 amino acids each (Bressanelli et al, 2004). The viral size is about 50nm (WHO, 2009). The genome of the dengue virus is relatively simple, coding for only one polyprotein, an aggregate of ten proteins (Patel et al, 2013). Cleavage of the viral polyprotein to its components occurs both by host and viral proteases (WHO, 2009). The ten separate genes code for structure- the capsid, envelope, and membrane or for other nonstructural purposes. The purpose of the envelope is recognition of which host proteins to bind (Patel et al, 2013).

Dengue virus is transmitted to humans by a few species of mosquitoes. A human currently infected by dengue passes the virus on when bitten by the female mosquito of the genus Aedes, either the A. aegypti or A. albopictus (Zompi et al. 2012). The virus enters the female, drawn through with blood and resides in the mid-gut during the extrinsic incubation period (WHO, 2009). Once this time period is over, the virus is ready to be transmitted to the next human bitten. Once infected, the female remains so for the rest of her life, passing on the virus each time she feeds (WHO 2009). The major issue that...