Researchers believe they found what makes dengue virus reinfections more fatal after a new property of the virus was discovered.
A group of laboratories from all over the world have collaborated to analyze 47 dengue virus strains to discover that, aside from genetically different structures, the strains can also be grouped into different antigenic properties.
"This discovery is in many ways similar to when researchers first began using the microscope - it will give us a new way of looking at dengue and in much closer detail than before," Professor Derek Smith from the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology said.
The difference in the antigenic properties is what enables the dengue viruses to slip past the immune system without being detected, despite being of the same genetic types. The antigenic properties are the parts of the virus that help the immune system recognize them once they enter the body. Among the dengue virus strains, each one has significantly different antigenic components compared to the others even of the same genetic type.
This means that an individual gaining immunity from being infected by one type of dengue virus may still repel the same virus having a different antigenic property. This could also mean that they could be protected against some of the strains of similar anti-genic material.
"We were surprised at how much variation we saw not only between the existing four known types of dengue, but also within each type," said Leah Katzelnick, one of the researchers from University of Cambridge. "This means that hypotheses that put antigenic differences at the center of dengue epidemiology are now back on the table."
Smith also added that this discovery can help further researchers' understanding on how viruses evolve and what makes second dengue infections life threatening.
The researchers are part of the Dengue Antigenic Cartography Consortium, an internationally open collaborative of researchers, epidemiologists, clinicians, geneticists, biologists, scientists and government officials. They aim to discover how different kinds of dengue cases are related to antigenic variations. The group hopes to use these findings to determine which strains can be used to develop vaccines and to be able to follow the dengue virus' evolution process.
The dengue virus is causing the potentially fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). It is transmitted through an infected mosquito bite and can cause symptoms ranging from mild fever, headache, rashes, body pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding and dehydration. Dengue fever patients are advised to keep hydrated and rested, preferably under medical supervision.
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