New research into the fight against Dengue, an insect-borne tropical disease that infects up to 390 million people worldwide annually, may influence the development of anti-viral therapies that are effective against all four types of the virus.
The findings, led by researchers at the University of Bristol and published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry today [2 August], show for the first time that there may be significant differences in specific properties of the viral proteins for the four dengue virus types.
Due to the effects of globalisation, including increased travel and urbanisation of human populations and the expanded geographical distribution of the mosquito vector that is responsible for the transmission of viral infections to millions of people, the number of individuals afflicted with dengue is rising.
Infection with any one of the four types of dengue virus (DENV types 1 - 4) may result in a spectrum of illnesses ranging from dengue fever, a mild flu like illness which causes high fever and joint pains, to the potentially fatal dengue haemorrhagic fever. Despite intensive research, dengue disease is not wholly understood, and there are no vaccines or anti-viral treatments available that can safely or effectively control the disease.
Dr Andrew Davidson, Senior Virologist and lead researcher from the University of Bristol, and colleagues examined the nuclear localisation properties of the NS5 protein of all four DENV types and found that there are major differences in the cellular localisation of the viral NS5 protein for the four DENV types.
The four types of DENV are genetically distinct. Although they can all cause dengue disease, little is known about how the genetic differences between them may translate into differences in virus replication and pathogenesis.
Previous studies by the team focusing on DENV-2, have shown that the viral NS5 protein is essential for DENV genome replication and is able to modulate the host immune response. As such, the NS5 protein is a key target for the development of anti-viral agents. Importantly, the team also showed that the DENV-2 NS5 protein accumulates in the nucleus during infection which is believed to effect host cell function.
Dr Davidson, Senior Lecturer in Virology, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Bristol, said: "The study shows for the first time that there may be significant differences in specific properties of the viral proteins for the four DENV types. This is important as it impacts on our understanding of viral replication and pathogenesis and the design of anti-viral therapies that are effective against all DENV types."
Present studies in the laboratory are focused on comprehensively comparing the effects of different DENV types on the host cell, using the state-of-the-art proteomics facilities at the University of Bristol.
Further information
Paper
The paper, entitled 'Serotype-specific Differences in Dengue Virus Non-structural Protein 5 Nuclear Localization' is published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 288, Issue 31, 22621-22635, August 2, 2013.
Holger Hannemann (University of Bristol); Po-Yu Sung (University of Bristol); Han-Chen Chiu (University of Bristol); Amjad Yousuf (University of Bristol and Taif University); Jim Bird (University of Bristol); Andrew D. Davidson (University of Bristol) and Siew Pheng Lim(Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases).
Dengue
Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. In recent years, transmission has increased predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas and has become a major international public health concern.
- Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection.
- The infection causes flu-like illness, and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue.
- The global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades.
- About half of the world's population is now at risk.
- Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
- Severe dengue is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian and Latin American countries.
- There is no specific treatment for dengue/ severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below 1 per cent.
- Dengue prevention and control solely depends on effective vector control measures.
Source: WHO
Notes to editors
For more information or to arrange an interview with Dr Andrew Davidson, please contact the University of Bristol Press Office, tel. +44 (0) 117 928 8086, tel mobile. +44 (0)7776 170238, email. Press-office@bristol.ac.uk Paper
An advance copy of the paper is available to download from the below URL https://fluff.bris.ac.uk/fluff/u3/ficmc/xBhVeusEDrKVQrVlbvJIZQGx5/
Issued by the Public Relations Office, Marketing & Communications Division, University of Bristol
Journal
Journal of Biological Chemistry