New vaccine design holds potential

Research out of the University of Michigan and Purdue University has found an important aspect of how both the dengue virus and West Nile virus replicate in their host cells. The scientists believe this will lead to a better understanding of how the virus infects humans, and ultimately to the development of a vaccine. Janet Smith and her team published a study in the journal Science, which uncovered the structure of a protein that allows the virus to replicate and manipulate the immune system. “Seeing the design of this key protein provides a target for a potential vaccine or even a therapeutic drug,” Smith said in a press release. The protein is called NS1 and is produced inside cells that are infected by the virus, where it assists in viral replication. NS1 is also released into the bloodstream during infection, where it helps to disguise the infection from the immune system. This...