Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
04:23
A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease
Published on: April 28, 2019
Rhododendron mariae Hance protects against dengue virus infection by targeting viral entry and modulating
Lijun Yan1, Pengke He1, Linzhong Yu1
1Traditional Chinese Pharmacological Laboratory, Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Microbial Pathogenesis
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Rhododendron mariae Hance extract (RH) shows significant anti-dengue virus (DENV) activity by blocking viral entry and reducing infection-related damage. This traditional herb offers a promising, host-directed strategy for flavivirus control.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Dengue virus (DENV) poses a global health threat with no specific treatments.
- Traditional Chinese medicine, like Rhododendron mariae Hance (RH), shows potential for antiviral properties.
- The anti-DENV effects of RH and its mechanisms are largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the polypharmacological anti-DENV properties of Rhododendron mariae Hance (RH) ethanol extract.
- To investigate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of RH against DENV-2.
- To elucidate the host-directed mechanisms of RH's antiviral action.
Main Methods:
- Chemical constituents of RH were identified using LC-MS/MS.
- In vitro antiviral activity was assessed using plaque assays, Western blot, and immunofluorescence.
- In vivo efficacy was evaluated in a DENV-2 infected suckling mouse model.
Main Results:
- LC-MS/MS identified 19 bioactive compounds in RH, including flavonoids and terpenoids.
- RH extract significantly inhibited DENV-2 replication and attenuated cytopathic effects in cell cultures.
- In vivo, RH treatment reduced viral loads, mitigated weight loss, improved survival, and suppressed brain pathology in infected mice.
Conclusions:
- Rhododendron mariae Hance (RH) exhibits potent anti-DENV activity by disrupting viral entry into host cells.
- RH demonstrates host-directed antiviral effects, reducing viral burden in key organs like the spleen and brain.
- RH represents a potential next-generation immunomodulatory agent for flavivirus control, bridging traditional knowledge with modern strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
01:25Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:25Arboviral Encephalitis
Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
01:18Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted primarily by Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America. After transmission through a mosquito bite, the virus initially replicates in skin-resident immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages. These cells then migrate to the lymph nodes, where viral replication increases, eventually leading to...
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...