Dengue virus continues to pose a significant threat to global health by intricately manipulating host cellular processes. Recent studies reveal how the virus reprograms host metabolism and disrupts immune signaling to facilitate its replication and evade immune defenses.
Metabolic Reprogramming Facilitates Viral Replication
To support its replication, Dengue virus commandeers the host’s metabolic pathways. It upregulates glycolysis, enhances lipid droplet utilization through lipophagy, and modifies amino acid metabolism. These changes provide the necessary energy and biosynthetic materials the virus requires to proliferate within host cells.
Host Signaling Pathways Undermine Immune Defense
In addition to metabolic alterations, Dengue virus targets key signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT. By doing so, the virus suppresses apoptosis, evades type I interferon responses, and induces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This strategic manipulation weakens the host’s immune response, allowing the virus to persist and cause severe pathology.
Inference:
- Dengue virus’s ability to reprogram host metabolism is crucial for its survival and replication.
- Disruption of mitochondrial dynamics by the virus increases reactive oxygen species, contributing to oxidative stress and severe disease symptoms.
- Targeting metabolic and signaling pathways offers promising avenues for developing effective therapeutic interventions against Dengue.
Understanding the dual role of host metabolic and signaling pathways in Dengue virus infection provides valuable insights for developing targeted therapies. By inhibiting glycolysis, modulating lipid metabolism, and employing host-directed therapies, it is possible to disrupt the virus’s replication mechanisms and enhance immune responses. These strategies not only hold potential for treating Dengue but also offer a framework for combating other flavivirus-related diseases. Continued research in this area is essential to translate these findings into clinical applications, ultimately reducing the global burden of Dengue and improving public health outcomes.
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