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Dengue Viral Infection
Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent mosquito-borne flavivirus, with the World Health Organization estimating hundreds of millions of infections annually. Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, it ranges from self-limiting fever, joint pain and rash to life-threatening dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).
Four serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4) circulate globally, with DENV-2 and DENV-4 predominating in India, where infection is marked by a sharp, sometimes fatal, fall in platelet counts. The NS2B-NS3 protease complex, which cleaves the viral polyprotein into the units required for replication, is a key antiviral drug target.
Our approach
Combining pharmacophore modelling, molecular docking and molecular dynamics, we design novel small molecules against the DENV NS2B-NS3 protease and other NS proteins, seeking compounds that restore platelet counts, block viral hijacking of host immune cells and remain robust against emerging NS mutations.