Detection of NS1 protein in children infected with dengue virus

• Grant number: 12/05477-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Victor Hugo Aquino Quintana
• Grantee: Sabrina Trigueiro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dengue is an infectious non-contagious disease caused by dengue virus (DENV), and transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, especially A. aegypti. It is estimated that 2.5 billion people live in more than 100 endemic countries and areas where transmission of DENV occurs. In Brazil, with more than 60% of cases of dengue reported in the Americas, the current endemic behavior shown by the disease has been accompanied by increased numbers of severe cases in children. The objective of this study is to evaluate the presence of NS1 protein in the blood of children with suspected DENV infection. The detection of the NS1 protein in serum samples from 112 children will be carried out using the dengue NS1 Platelia Ag kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Marnes la Coquette, France). The results of this test will be compared with those obtained by RT-PCR real-time for detection of DENV RNA. (AU)