Non-Structural Proteases as a Target of Dengue Virus

Image

Dengue is a globally emerging health concern, still in preliminary stage of drug development. Many research scientists explored the dengue virus and identified its several targets that are categorized as structural and non-structural proteins, irrespective of its serotypic classification. A number of natural, synthetic and patented analogs are screened and studied against different serotypes and targets of dengue. Our review compiles the recent developments based on the huge number of such molecular space created by diverse scaffolds, specifically targeting NS2B-NS3 protease and methyltransferase (NS5) of dengue virus (DENV) infection. The emphasis of our article is to confer the leads towards the DENV drug discovery.

Dengue virus (DENV), is a single stranded positive RNA virus encodes 10,173 nucleotides which are translated to form polyprotein, belonging to the genus Flavivirus and family Flaviviridae. DENV is arbovirus (arthropod-borne) and the vector responsible for transmission of infection is mosquitoes of Aedes genus, more specifically A. aegypti and A. albopictus. DENV has four different antigenically distinct serotypes along with emerge of one more serotype recently viz DENV I, II, III, IV and V . Among these serotypes, DENV II is most predominantly occurring virus. The main symptoms of infection are dengue fever (DF) and life threatening dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) causing drastic decrease in the blood platelet count.

Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals publish many more article  under this scope. Manuscrpts are invited to antivirals@eclinicalsci.com

Regards
Robert har
Associate Editor
Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals