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  • Smart dengue virus fights antibody

    Smart dengue virus fights antibody

    Pranesh Sarkar

    KOLKATA, May 14: With many Kolkatans developing an antibody to fight the dengue virus after being afflicted by the virus at least once in the past two years, the dengue virus is now getting smarter by changing its genetic arrangement to beat the antibody.

    This alarming fact was noticed by the city-based virus unit of the Indian Council of Medical Research. Scientists who are working on the subject said this could lead to a major problem as the dengue virus with the new genetic arrangement is likely to cause more haemorrhage that makes dengue fatal.

    ICMR scientists, who prefer anonymity, said they observed the change in a few cases last year and would carry out the study on a large scale if the disease raises its head this year, too.

    They said as changes are taking place in the sequence of genetic arrangement, the gene appears like a new strain of dengue virus that can easily beat the existing antibody.

    ?If one suffers from dengue once, the antibody to counter the virus in future develops in the patient?s body.

    ?But as soon as the virus with a different genetic arrangement enters the patient?s body again, known as dual infection, haemorrhage starts because the existing anti-body fights the new virus.

    ?The situation in Kolkata could be alarming because every year, many people here develop the anti-body after being afflicted by the commonly circulated dengue virus,? a scientist said.

    ?There are four dengue serotypes~D1, D2, D3 and D4. All these serotypes have different genetic arrangements. And the change is taking place in the genetic arrangements of all the serotypes,? he said.

    ?For example, the genetic arrangement of a dengue serotype is A-G-T-C-A-T but after its self-mutation, the genetic arrangement of the same serotype becomes A-G-C-T-T-A (where A stands for Adnosine, G for Goanine, C for Cytosine and T for Thianine). With the change in the genetic arrangement, it becomes tough to isolate the virus and this causes fatal haemorrhaging fever,? a scientist said.

    The fight against dengue is almost impossible after changes are observed in the genetic order of the virus. Mosquito control appears to be the only way to counter the disease, experts said.

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