title: Behavior of the dengue virus in solution.
abstract: The dengue virus consists of four antigenically related but distinct viruses, termed Dengue virus 1-4 (DEN 1-4). We have established that the dengue virus loses infectivity over time in solution in an exponentially declining manner. The four strains examined (one from each serotype) have half-lives that range from 2.5 to 7.5 hr in defined medium. The half-life is temperature and pH-dependent and is affected by the nature of the host cell in which it is produced, but is not dependent upon the presence of either Mg(2+) ions or chelating agents. Electron microscopy (EM) of solutions of the dengue virus show almost complete virus aggregation after 24 hr at room temperature, while RT-PCR shows an intact RNA genome. These results show that the solution environment of the dengue virus is an important determinant of dengue virus infectivity.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakorn Pathom, Thiland.
authors.forename: Patchima
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sithisarn
authors.forename: Lukkana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suksanpaisan
authors.forename: Chutima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thepparit
authors.forename: Duncan R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003470:Culture Media; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012996:Solutions; D014709:Vero Cells; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012996:Solutions