Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130411194924.htm
Discovery Points to New Approach to Fight Dengue Virus
Apr. 11, 2013 ? Researchers have discovered that rising temperature induces key changes in the dengue virus when it enters its human host, and the findings represent a new approach for designing vaccines against the aggressive mosquito-borne pathogen.
The researchers found that the dengue virus particles swell slightly and take on a bumpy appearance when heated to human body temperature, exposing "epitopes," or regions where antibodies could attach to neutralize the virus.
The discovery is significant because it could help to explain why vaccines against dengue have been ineffective, said Michael G. Rossmann, Hanley Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University...
...Journal Reference:
X. Zhang, J. Sheng, P. Plevka, R. J. Kuhn, M. S. Diamond, M. G. Rossmann. Dengue structure differs at the temperatures of its human and mosquito hosts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1304300110
Discovery Points to New Approach to Fight Dengue Virus
Apr. 11, 2013 ? Researchers have discovered that rising temperature induces key changes in the dengue virus when it enters its human host, and the findings represent a new approach for designing vaccines against the aggressive mosquito-borne pathogen.
The researchers found that the dengue virus particles swell slightly and take on a bumpy appearance when heated to human body temperature, exposing "epitopes," or regions where antibodies could attach to neutralize the virus.
The discovery is significant because it could help to explain why vaccines against dengue have been ineffective, said Michael G. Rossmann, Hanley Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University...
...Journal Reference:
X. Zhang, J. Sheng, P. Plevka, R. J. Kuhn, M. S. Diamond, M. G. Rossmann. Dengue structure differs at the temperatures of its human and mosquito hosts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1304300110