Manipulation of host signalling for the characterisation and control of dengue fever

Abstract

Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted disease of the tropics and sub-tropics that is caused by dengue virus (DENV). There are an estimated 60-100 million clinical cases of dengue fever per year, resulting in at least 10,000 deaths. Most clinical cases of dengue are characterised by flu-like symptoms. However, for unknown reasons, a small proportion (1-2%) of clinical cases progress to a life-threatening form of disease referred to as “severe dengue”. Severe dengue is characterised by cytokine storms, heightened endothelial permeability and associated sequelae such as shock and haemorrhage. During the onset of severe dengue, viraemia and viral antigenaemia are sharply declining or absen..