A population of bang-bang switches of defective interfering particles makes within-host dynamics of dengue virus controllable

摘要

Dengue virions with deletions or defects in their genomes can be recovered from dengue patients. These defective viruses can only replicate with the assistance of fully functional viruses and they reduce the yield of the fully functional viruses. They are known as defective interfering (DI) particles. By administering additional, defined, DI particles to patients it may be possible to reduce the titre and duration of their viraemia. This, in turn may reduce the severity of the disease and the likelihood that the dengue virus will be passed from the patient to a mosquito vector. This study estimates the number of DI particles that would need to be administered, and over what period, to have a significant effect on patient viraemia and subsequent dengue fever severity.