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Partial maturation: an immune-evasion strategy of dengue virus?

Izabela A Rodenhuis-Zybert1, Jan Wilschut, Jolanda M Smit

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Molecular Virology Section, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.

Trends in Microbiology
|March 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Flavivirus infectivity relies on precursor membrane (prM) protein cleavage. This review explores the evolutionary advantage of inefficient prM cleavage in dengue virus, impacting pathogenesis and antibody response.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Flavivirus infectivity requires the cleavage of the precursor membrane (prM) protein.
  • Dengue virus exhibits inefficient prM cleavage and maturation.
  • This inefficiency results in heterogeneous virus preparations containing uncleaved prM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary advantage of producing prM-containing dengue virus particles.
  • To understand the role of prM-containing virions in dengue pathogenesis.
  • To summarize recent advancements in dengue virus research concerning prM.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current dengue virus research literature.
  • Analysis of studies on prM protein cleavage and maturation.
  • Examination of the relationship between prM-containing virions and dengue pathogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Inefficient prM cleavage leads to heterogeneous dengue virus populations.
  • Substantial prM-specific antibody levels are produced post-infection.
  • prM-containing virions may play a significant role in dengue pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • The inefficient cleavage of prM protein may confer an evolutionary advantage to dengue virus.
  • prM-containing virions are implicated in the complex pathogenesis of dengue.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the function of prM in dengue virus.

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