Dengue NS1 ST1, Insect

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes dengue fever, a significant public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions. The virus has four distinct serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4), and infection with one serotype does not confer immunity against the others. The nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a multifunctional glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in the viral life cycle and pathogenesis.

NS1 is a 46-55 kDa glycoprotein that exists in multiple oligomeric forms, including monomers, dimers, and hexamers. It is involved in various functions, such as viral replication, immune evasion, and pathogenesis. NS1 is secreted from infected cells and can be found in the bloodstream of infected individuals. The secreted form of NS1 (sNS1) is predominantly dimeric and plays a role in immune modulation and vascular leakage, a hallmark of severe dengue disease .

Recombinant NS1 proteins are produced using various expression systems, including insect cells. Insect cell expression systems, such as Drosophila S2 cells, are commonly used due to their ability to perform post-translational modifications similar to those in mammalian cells. The production of recombinant NS1 in insect cells involves transfecting the cells with a plasmid encoding the NS1 gene, followed by protein expression and purification .

Recombinant NS1 proteins are used in various research and diagnostic applications. They are employed in the development of diagnostic assays for dengue infection, as NS1 is a biomarker for early detection of the disease. Additionally, recombinant NS1 is used in vaccine development and studies investigating the immune response to dengue virus .