Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
About us Latest news News News articles

The functional importance of flavivirus maturation

07 September 2011

PhD ceremony: Ms. I.A. Rodenhuis-Zybert, 13.15 uur, Aula Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: The functional importance of flavivirus maturation

Promotor(s): prof. J.C. Wilschut

Faculty: Medical Sciences

 

Among flaviviruses that cause disease in humans, infections with mosquito-transmitted four serotypes of Dengue virus (DENV 1-4), West-Nile virus (WNV) are currently of a most global concern. Yet to date, there are no vaccines approved for use against these viruses. Vaccine development for DENV proved to be particularly challenging since antibodies produced during primary infection has been linked to the risk ofdeveloping severe disease upon secondary infection with another serotype.

Flavivirus-specific antibodies are mainly directed against two viral glycoproteins: the main envelope protein E and prM that constitutes the surface of the generally noninfectious, so called immature viruses.Herein we show in vitro and in vivo that in the presence of prM and E antibodies, immature viruses become infectious. In fact, opsonization with the antibodies facilitates, otherwise poor, entry of immature dengue virions into Fc-receptors bearing cells. Furthermore, we have shown that activity of furin, an enzyme residing in the host cell, is critical to elicit infectious phenotype of the immature virus, suggesting viral maturation process upon entry. Thus, we have demonstrated that antibody response of the infected individual can render otherwise non-pathogenic virions infectious and thereby contribute to the development of the severe disease presentation. 

 

Last modified:13 March 2020 01.10 a.m.
Share this Facebook LinkedIn
View this page in: Nederlands

More news

  • 06 June 2025

    India-Netherlands Hydrogen Valley Fellowship Programme announced

    To coincide with World Environment Day, 5 June 2025, the Indian Department of Science and Technology and the University of Groningen yesterday announced a Hydrogen Valley Fellowship Programme Partnership, allowing talented Indian scholars working on...

  • 28 May 2025

    Gaan avondmensen cognitief sneller achteruit dan ochtendmensen?

    Wie ’s avonds opleeft en laat naar bed gaat, heeft een grotere kans op cognitieve achteruitgang dan een ochtendmens, blijkt uit UMCG-onderzoek.

  • 27 May 2025

    An adventure in the brain

    In the exhibition Brainstorm in the University Mueseum, Iris Sommer and two other brain researchers from Groningen explain the gut-brain connection, how it was discovered that the brain does what it does, and how games motivate you to perform...