Scientists identify the skin immune cells targeted by the dengue virus

Cells in the skin immune system that act as ‘gateways’ enabling the dengue virus to spread through the body have been identified by A*STAR researchers. Dengue is a global health concern that is growing at an alarming rate. Approximately 390 million people are infected by the virus each year, and the World Health Organization now estimates that about half of the world’s population is at risk of infection. Although the virus generally causes relatively mild symptoms such as fever, headaches and rashes, in certain cases it can lead to potentially fatal organ failure. Like malaria, dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes and enters the body via the skin. However, it had not been clear which components of the skin were involved in spreading the virus throughout the body—until now (see image). By infecting skin from human donors and examining its response to infection, Katja Fink at the A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network and co-workers have...