Morphogenesis of Dengue Virus: Molecular Biology and Molecular Organization of Viral Proteins.

摘要

Research resulted in 4 major advances in the understanding of Togaviruses among which is DENGUE virus (DEN). Each of these major advances is described in some detail and each has or will be included in a published manuscript which acknowledges the source of support. The first major finding was the appearance of DEN antigens on the surface of infected cells. This was of major importance since it has been hypothesized that dengue hemorraghic fever (DHF) is the result of DEN antigen interaction with anti DEN antibody resulting complement mediated vascular endothelial injury. Findings then led us to postulate that DEN antigens on the cell surface were composed of ordered arrays of DEN polypeptides. As a first approach we proposed to examine the surface of the virus itself and then proceed to a study of the cell surface. To do this, the growth of DEN in BHK cells was studied. Findings established new growth conditions and assay procedures for the virus. Results of studies showed that the glycoproteins of two closely related viruses were quite different but that these differences probably would not significantly alter the organization of polypeptides on the surface of the virion.