Dengue Virus

All unapproved Citizendium articles may contain errors of fact, bias, grammar etc. A version of an article is unapproved unless it is marked as citable with a dedicated green template at the top of the page, as in this version of the 'Biology' article. Citable articles are intended to be of reasonably high quality. The participants in the Citizendium project make no representations about the reliability of Citizendium articles or, generally, their suitability for any purpose. This article is currently being developed as part of an Eduzendium student project in the framework of a course entitled Microbiology 201 at Queens College, CUNY. The course homepage can be found at CZ:Biol 201: General Microbiology. For the course duration, the article is closed to outside editing. Of course you can always leave comments on the discussion page. The anticipated date of course completion is May 21, 2009. One month after that date at the latest, this notice shall be removed. Besides, many other Citizendium articles welcome your collaboration!

Dengue Virus
Virus classification
Group: NA Family: NA Genus: NA

Classification:

Group: Group IV ((+)ssRNA, no DNA stage)

Family: Flaviviridae

Genus: Flavivirus

Species: Dengue Virus

Description and significance:

The Dengue Virus, pronounced as [deng – gey or deng – gee] is a category-A pathogen and therefore is a serious threat to the human population globally. Category A pathogens are microbes that are hazardous to lab personnel and have the potential to cause serious epidemic disease. The Dengue Virus has four different serotypes, DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. These four serotypes are approximately 60-80% homologous but different enough to restrict cross immunity. This means that if a person is infected with one type of the four Dengue virus strains, they will build immunity to that specific serotype, but not for the other three. This lack of cross immunity is what poses a problem in the development of a vaccine for Dengue. The Dengue virus causes a less lethal condition known as Dengue Fever, which is also known as the breakbone fever. The Dengue virus causes a more lethal condition in some who are infected and that is known as the Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DHS).

The Dengue virus is currently believed to be the most common mosquito-borne disease in recent times and cause for increased international health concerns. The Dengue virus currently poses a risk to approximately 2.5 billion people of the worlds total population. In other words, almost one third of the world is at risk for this potentially deadly virus. The Dengue virus is transmitted amongst humans via its main vector, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This virus is mostly found in countries along the equator and in countries with tropical and subtropical conditions because these are the conditions needed for this mosquito to thrive in. The mosquito acquires the disease from an infected individual and then carries it and passes it on to other individuals it feeds off of. Once an individual has been infected the virus then causes the person to come down with Dengue Fever. Dengue fever is a febrile disease and has Flu like symptoms accompanied by a rash and severe aches and pains. Headaches are extremely common and stronger than normal. Joint pain is also very common. Dengue Fever will usually subside in approximately five to ten days. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever is the more serious complication caused by the Dengue Virus. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever has an incubation period that is similar to Dengue Fever (approximately 3-5 days) but unless treated with a combination of corticosteroids, proper hydration and physician supervision, DHF will be mortal for the individual. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever causes the blood vessels to become excessively permeable accompanied by thrombocytopenia and abnormal hemostasis.

What makes it biologically interesting?

Its application to Biotechnology... its medical importance... major research findings made with it... what's cool about myxoma virus as an organism: