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Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Protocol for Dengue Infections in Mosquitoes A. aegypti and Infection Phenotype Determination
Published on: July 4, 2007
Pathogen inactivation of Dengue virus in red blood cells using amustaline and glutathione
Maite Aubry1, Andrew Laughhunn2, Felicia Santa Maria2
1Pôle de Recherche et de Veille sur les Maladies Infectieuses Émergentes, Institut Louis Malardé, Tahiti, Polynésie Française.
Background:
Dengue virus (DENV) is an arbovirus primarily transmitted through mosquito bite; however, DENV transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) have been reported and asymptomatic DENV RNA-positive blood donors have been identified in endemic countries. DENV is considered a high-risk pathogen for blood safety. One of the mitigation strategies to prevent arbovirus TTIs is pathogen inactivation. In this study we demonstrate that the amustaline and glutathione (S-303/GSH) treatment previously found effective against Zika virus in red blood cells (RBCs) is also effective in inactivating DENV.
Study Design And Methods:
Red blood cells were spiked with high levels of DENV. Viral RNA loads and infectious titers were measured in the untreated control and before and after pathogen inactivation treatment of RBC samples. DENV infectivity was also assessed over five successive cell culture passages to detect any potential residual replicative virus.
Results:
The mean ± SD DENV titer in RBCs before inactivation was 6.61 ± 0.19 log 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50 )/mL and the mean viral RNA load was 8.42 log genome equivalents/mL. No replicative DENV was detected either immediately after completion of treatment using S-303/GSH or after cell culture passages.
Conclusion:
Treatment using S-303/GSH inactivated high levels of DENV in RBCs to the limit of detection. In combination with previous studies showing the effective inactivation of DENV in plasma and platelets using the licensed amotosalen/UVA system, this study demonstrates that high levels of DENV can be inactivated in all blood components.
Insights
The amustaline and glutathione (S-303/GSH) treatment effectively inactivates Dengue virus (DENV) in red blood cells (RBCs). This pathogen inactivation method enhances blood safety by reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections from DENV.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Blood Transfusion Safety
- Pathogen Inactivation
Background:
- Dengue virus (DENV) poses a significant risk to blood safety due to transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs).
- Asymptomatic DENV RNA-positive blood donors have been identified in endemic regions, highlighting the need for mitigation strategies.
- Pathogen inactivation is a key strategy to prevent arbovirus TTIs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of amustaline and glutathione (S-303/GSH) treatment in inactivating DENV in red blood cells (RBCs).
- To assess the potential of S-303/GSH as a method for ensuring blood component safety against DENV.
Main Methods:
- Red blood cells (RBCs) were experimentally infected with high levels of DENV.
- Viral RNA loads and infectious titers were quantified before and after S-303/GSH treatment.
- DENV infectivity was further assessed through serial cell culture passages to detect any residual infectious virus.
Main Results:
- The S-303/GSH treatment significantly reduced DENV titers in RBCs to the limit of detection.
- No replicative DENV was detected immediately post-treatment or after subsequent cell culture passages.
- The study achieved a mean DENV titer reduction from 6.61 ± 0.19 log TCID50/mL to undetectable levels.
Conclusions:
- The amustaline and glutathione (S-303/GSH) treatment is effective in inactivating high levels of DENV in RBCs.
- This finding, combined with previous data on plasma and platelets, indicates that S-303/GSH can inactivate DENV across all blood components.
- The S-303/GSH treatment represents a promising approach to enhance blood safety against Dengue virus transmission.
