Discovery of dengue vaccine

A class of antibodies to make vaccines for dengue has been found, researchers said. A new class of antibodies that can neutralize all four types of dengue virus produced from mosquito or human cells has now been discovered, as per reports in the journal Nature Immunology. In addition to helping create a new vaccine, this discovery will improve laboratory tests. Dengue is a highly virulent tropical viral infection that spreads via mosquitoes. Dengue fever has flu-like symptoms and can be life-threatening. It currently does not have any treatments or vaccines. About half a million people are hospitalised with dengue every year and most are children. Dengue is rampant in tropical countries and threatens to spread into the southern United States, Europe and in Australia. Infection with one type of dengue vaccinates the body against that particular form, but the person can still acquire the three other forms. The dengue virus has a shell that...