New Treatment Strategies for Dengue and Other Flaviviral Diseases

Gregory R. Bock, Jamie A. Goode, Gregory R. Bock, Jamie A. Goode

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9780470016435
• eBook ISBN: 9780470058015
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Microbiology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Dengue virus is a member of the Flaviviridae family, which includes viruses associated with human diseases such as yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis C. Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes, principally Aedes aegypti. There are four serotypes of dengue virus, of which DENV-2 has been the most prevalent in many recent epidemics. Following primary infection, lifelong immunity develops, preventing repeated assault by the same serotype. However, the non-neutralizing antibodies from a previous infection or maternally acquired antibodies are thought to form complexes with a different serotype during a subsequent infection and cause dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal. There is no treatment or vaccine available today that can combat this emerging and uncontrolled disease.

This book features contributions from the world's leading researchers working on dengue and related flaviviruses who examine the current state of the art in the molecular biology of the dengue virus. Particular emphasis is placed on the structure and function of the virus and the targeting of virus proteins by potential antiviral agents. The pathogenesis of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever are discussed in detail, especially the target cells and the specific receptors on these cells, thereby developing a clear overview of host and viral factors that contribute to dengue haemorrhagic fever. Finally, the book reviews the therapeutic options, paying particular attention to ways in which vector, host and environment can play a critical role in the spread of this disease.

With dengue fever and other emerging viral diseases becoming increasingly prevalent around the world, this book provides valuable insight into the virus that causes this disease and potential ways to manage it. It is essential reading for all those working in tropical diseases, public health and virology.

Praise from the reviews:

"The book provides an excellent summary of dengue/flavivirus research and is important for individuals and institutions interested in emerging infectious diseases." MICROBIOLOGY TODAY

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Participants
• Chair’s introduction
• Dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever: history and current status
• Molecular biology of flaviviruses
• Development of novel antivirals against flaviviruses
• Entry functions and antigenic structure of flavivirus envelope proteins
• GENERAL DISCUSSION I
• Multiple enzyme activities of flavivirus proteins
• Towards the design of flavivirus helicase/NTPase inhibitors: crystallographic and mutagenesis studies of the dengue virus NS3 helicase catalytic domain
• Finding new medicines for flaviviral targets
• Structural and functional analysis of dengue virus RNA
• Organization of flaviviral replicase proteins in virus-induced membranes: a role for NS1' in Japanese encephalitis virus RNA synthesis
• CRM1-dependent nuclear export of dengue virus type 2 NS5
• T cell responses and dengue haemorrhagic fever
• The evolutionary biology of dengue virus
• Developing vaccines against flavivirus diseases: past success, present hopes and future challenges
• A genomics approach to understanding host response during dengue infection
• Mouse and hamster models for the study of therapy against flavivirus infections
• Secretion of flaviviral non-structural protein NS1: from diagnosis to pathogenesis
• FINAL DISCUSSION
• Contributor index
• Subject Index