Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus, which belongs to the genus Flavivirus within the family Flaviviridae. There are four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus, namely DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. Among these, Dengue Virus Type 2 (DENV-2) is one of the most studied due to its significant impact on public health.
The envelope (E) protein of the dengue virus is a glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in the virus’s ability to infect host cells. It is involved in the processes of viral attachment, membrane fusion, and entry into the host cell. The E protein is also the primary target for neutralizing antibodies, making it a key focus for vaccine development and therapeutic interventions.
The E protein is composed of three distinct domains:
Mouse antibodies against the dengue virus type 2 envelope protein are commonly used in research to study the immune response to dengue infection and to develop diagnostic tools and vaccines. These antibodies can be monoclonal or polyclonal.
The use of mouse antibodies against the DENV-2 envelope protein has several important applications: