News, Photos, Story Human Rights, Culture, Poltics, Economy

Study analyzes dengue fever virus


Published: March 27, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Print story
Email to a friend
Font size:
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., March 27 (UPI) -- U.S. biologists have discovered how dengue virus particles undergo structural changes that allow them to mature and become infectious.

Purdue University researchers said their findings pertain to all viruses in the family of flaviviruses, which involve such insect-borne diseases as dengue fever, West Nile, yellow fever and St. Louis encephalitis.

Dengue involves a virus that's spread by mosquitoes and infects more than 50 million people annually, killing about 24,000, primarily in Southeast Asia and in Central and South America.

Researchers discovered critical changes occur as the virus is assembled and moves from the inner to the outer portions of its host cell before being secreted so that it can infect other cells.

The research showed virus particles are exposed to progressively less acidic conditions, and that plays a vital role in the maturation of the virus.

"This is possibly the most detailed understanding of how any virus matures," said Professor Michael Rossmann, who led the study with Associate Professor Jue Chen.

The research that also included Professor Richard Kuhn, researcher I-Mei Yu and doctoral student Long Li is detailed in two research papers appearing in the March 28 issue of the journal Science.

© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
Print story
Order reprints
Email to a friend
Post comment
See Also:
» Next in Science: Living upside-down helps spiders' energy

CYCLONE MYANMUR
NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the Burma coast on May 5, 2008, after Tropical Cyclone Nargis flooded the region on May 4, 2008. The death toll from the cyclone and its aftermath is feared to hit or exceed 100,000 lives. (UPI Photo/NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team)
NASA satellite images reveal magnitude of flooding in Myanmar
Full Photo | Slideshow