title: The dengue virus non-structural 1 protein: risks and benefits.
abstract: The dengue virus (DENV) non-structural 1 (NS1) protein plays a critical role in viral RNA replication and has a central position in DENV pathogenesis. DENV NS1 is a glycoprotein expressed in infected mammalian cells as soluble monomers that dimerize in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum; NS1 is subsequently transported to the cell surface, where it remains membrane associated or is secreted into the extracellular milieu as a hexameric complex. During the last three decades, the DENV NS1 protein has also been intensively investigated as a potential target for vaccines and antiviral drugs. In addition, NS1 is the major diagnostic marker for dengue infection. This review highlights some important issues regarding the role of NS1 in DENV pathogenesis and its biotechnological applications, both as a target for the development of safe and effective vaccines and antiviral drugs and as a tool for the generation of accurate diagnostic methods.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Development Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: jhamorim@usp.br.
authors.forename: Jaime Henrique
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Development Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rúbens Prince dos Santos
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Antigen Targeting to Dendritic Cells, Department of Parasitology, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Beatriz
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Boscardin
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Development Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luís Carlos de Souza
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D053059:Dengue Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D011634:Public Health; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053059:Dengue Vaccines; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins
keywords: Antiviral; Dengue virus; Diagnosis; NS1 protein; Pathogenesis; Vaccine