Molecular Aspects of the Dengue Virus Infection Process: A Review

Autor(es)

Zonetti, Luiz F. C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Coutinho, Milena C. ^[2] ; de Araujo, Alexandre S. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, IBILCE, Dept Phys, POB 15054-000, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Inst Educ Sci & Technol Sao Paulo, Dept Phys, IFSP, Campus Birigui, Birigui, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo de Revisão
• Fonte: PROTEIN AND PEPTIDE LETTERS; v. 25, n. 8, p. 712-719, 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Background: At the present time, dengue is one of the most important arboviruses affecting man, becoming a serious global public health problem, especially in subtropical and tropical countries, where environmental conditions favor the development and proliferation of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Dengue is caused by a type of flavivirus, which is an enveloped virus of spherical geometry. Nowadays, it is one of the diseases with the highest incidence in Brazil, reaching the population of all states, regardless of social class. Several papers address the molecular aspects of infection of human cell by the viruses, which are reviewed in this work. Conclusion: Analyzing the three-dimensional structures of the fusion peptide of dengue virus protein E, we observed that the fusion peptide presents a region rich in hydrophobic residues and a ``collar{''} of charged, polar residues. Probably, this hydrophilic collar plays an important role in the fusion process between the dengue virus and the cell membrane. In order for this disease to cease being a serious global public health problem, we must deepen our knowledge about the fusion process between the dengue virus and the cell membrane through further experimental and, especially, computational studies to find ways to inhibit the mechanism of virus infection. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 10/18169-3 - Estudo de processos físico-químicos relacionados à complexação de íons de metais pesados de interesse ambiental por calix[4]arenos utilizando simulações de dinâmica molecular
• Beneficiário: Alexandre Suman de Araujo
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular