Photo Credit: Jojo Dexter
The following is a summary of “Dengue NS1 Antibodies Are Associated With Clearance of Viral Nonstructural Protein-1,” published in the June 2024 issue of Infectious Disease by Papa et al.
Dengue nonstructural protein-1 (NS1) antibodies play a complex role in severe dengue infections, but the impact on vascular permeability and patient outcomes remains unclear.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study exploring the correlation between free NS1 concentration and NS1 antibody titers in primary and secondary dengue infections, aiming to elucidate the presence and duration of NS1 antibody complexes.
They enrolled patients in Northern Colombia diagnosed with acute dengue infection (2018 and 2020). Participants for dengue signs and symptoms assessed and reviewed the medical charts and collected blood samples daily. Serological tests were used to distinguish between primary and secondary dengue infections, while NS1 protein levels and antibodies against NS1 were measured daily.
The result showed that a secondary dengue infection had higher antibodies against NS1 protein levels than the primary infection. A negative correlation was observed between anti-NS1 antibody titer and NS1 protein, suggesting the formation of NS1 antibody-antigen complexes. Additionally, in a subgroup of patients with secondary infection, the complexes were detectable upon admission during the febrile phase but not later during recovery. The study also found that dengue infection status was linked to elevated circulating sialidase levels.
Investigators concluded that the negative correlation between anti-NS1 antibodies and NS1 protein levels supported the hypothesis of antibody-mediated viral clearance in dengue infection.
Source: academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiae299/7688891
