Found – human antibody that kills the dengue virus

A team of research scientists in Singapore have uncovered a human antibody that can neutralize and kill the dengue virus within two hours. A way to reproduce this antibody in large quantities has also been identified, potentially opening the door to a cure for dengueinfected patients. This discovery was made by a combined team from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School and the Defence Medical & Environmental Research Institute at DSO National Laboratories (DMERI@DSO) with funding from the Singapore National Research Foundation under its Singapore NRF Fellowship, National Medical Research Council and DR Tech. By studying a group of cell lines from recovered dengue-infected patients over a period of two years, the team identified a recombinant antibody that could attach itself strongly to a specific part of the dengue virus and inhibit it from attacking other cells. The antibody ventually destroys the virus and at a much faster...