News & Blogs 2024-05-22
IVD Materials Empowering Dengue Fever Detection
Recently, temperatures are gradually rising with increased rainfall, leading to the breeding of mosquitoes and the onset of various gastrointestinal and vector-borne diseases. According to data released by the Brazilian Ministry of Health on May 10th, 2024, the number of suspected and confirmed cases of dengue fever in Brazil has risen to 4,603,825, with 2,451 deaths.
In Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand have seen varying degrees of increase in dengue fever cases compared to the same period last year. On April 23rd, Indonesia has confirmed over 62,000 cases of dengue fever, with 475 deaths, about three times the number compared to the same period last year, with most cases occurring in areas such as Tangerang and Bandung (The Jarkata Post). From May onwards, the world enters the peak season for transmission and spread of dengue fever, with August to October being the peak period for the occurrence of cases.
What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue Fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the dengue virus, primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.
from：Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Left: Aedes aegypti; Right: Aedes albopictus)
Characteristics and Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Symptoms typically appear 4-10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and include:
● High Fever: Sudden onset, usually lasting 2-7 days
● Severe Headache: Often pain behind the eyes
● Joint and Muscle Pain: Known as "breakbone fever" due to its severity
● Rash: Appears on the 3rd-5th day, may be maculopapular or petechial
● Nausea and Vomiting
● Fatigue and Weakness
Some patients may develop severe dengue (previously known as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome), characterized by severe bleeding, plasma leakage, and organ damage, requiring immediate medical intervention.
Transmission
The dengue virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person carrying the virus and can then transmit it to new hosts. Direct human-to-human transmission does not occur, but rare cases can involve blood transfusions, organ transplants, or vertical transmission (mother to baby).
Dengue fever is a global public health challenge, especially in developing countries. Effective mosquito control, vaccine development, and early diagnosis and treatment are key to managing dengue fever.
from：Nature Reviews Microbiology
The Diagnostic Significance of Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a critical public health concern due to its widespread prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions and its potential for severe complications. Accurate and timely diagnosis of dengue fever is crucial for effective patient management, outbreak control, and implementation of preventive measures.
Importance of Early Diagnosis
1. Symptom Management and Treatment:
● Prompt Symptomatic Relief: Early diagnosis allows healthcare providers to offer prompt symptomatic relief, which can alleviate severe discomfort caused by high fever, headache, muscle, and joint pain.
● Avoiding Complications: Early detection is essential for monitoring and managing potential complications, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which require immediate medical intervention.
2. Preventing Disease Spread:
● Quarantine and Isolation: Identifying infected individuals early helps in implementing isolation measures to prevent the spread of the virus through mosquito vectors.
● Vector Control Measures: Early diagnosis can trigger targeted vector control measures, such as fumigation and elimination of mosquito breeding sites, to reduce transmission.
3. Epidemiological Surveillance:
● Monitoring Outbreaks: Accurate diagnosis contributes to effective epidemiological surveillance, allowing health authorities to monitor the spread of the disease, identify hotspots, and predict outbreaks.
● Resource Allocation: Surveillance data helps in allocating medical resources and personnel to areas with the highest need, ensuring better preparedness and response.
The diagnostic significance of dengue fever lies in its ability to facilitate prompt and appropriate clinical management, prevent further transmission, and support public health surveillance. Improving diagnostic capabilities, including the development of rapid and accurate point-of-care tests, is essential for better managing dengue fever and mitigating its impact on affected populations.
Diagnostic Markers for Dengue and the Significance of NS1 Protein Detection
Diagnostic Markers for Dengue
The diagnosis of dengue typically relies on the following markers:
1. NS1 Antigen:
● NS1 (Non-structural Protein 1) is a protein produced by the dengue virus during the early stages of infection.
● It can be detected in the patient's serum within 1 to 7 days of the onset of symptoms.
● NS1 antigen detection is a rapid and specific diagnostic method, especially useful during the acute phase of the infection.
2. IgM and IgG Antibodies:
● IgM Antibodies: Appear 3 to 5 days after infection, peak around two weeks, and usually disappear within 2 to 3 months.
● IgG Antibodies: Appear 7 to 10 days after infection and can persist for years, indicating past infection or secondary infection.
3. Viral RNA:
● Detected through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
● Most effective within the first 5 to 7 days of symptom onset, directly confirming the presence of the virus.
NS1 Protein and Its Detection Significance
NS1 Protein is one of the non-structural proteins of the dengue virus and plays a crucial role in viral replication. The detection of NS1 protein holds significant importance in the diagnosis of dengue:
a 3D structure of Dengue virus NS1 protein (PDB ID: 4OIG). b Peptide inhibitors designed against NS1 protein; Peptide 1—QFGPVFTWLNHA; Peptide 2—SFVNLWTPRYSL; Peptide 3—WHWRLWDVPDNP; Peptide 4—WHWAWYSPTARM
1. Early Diagnosis:
● NS1 antigen can be detected in the early stages of the disease, several days before IgM antibodies appear.
● Due to its high expression in the early infection phase, NS1 antigen detection aids in the rapid diagnosis of dengue, particularly within the first 1 to 7 days of symptom onset.
2. High Specificity and Sensitivity:
● NS1 antigen detection offers high specificity and sensitivity, effectively distinguishing dengue virus infection from other flavivirus infections.
● Detection methods include Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Immunochromatographic Test (ICT), both of which are quick and accurate.
3. Aid in Clinical Decision-Making:
● Early detection of NS1 antigen allows healthcare providers to confirm the diagnosis promptly, enabling timely and appropriate treatment and management measures to prevent severe complications.
4. Public Health Surveillance:
● NS1 antigen detection assists in epidemiological investigations, monitoring the spread and outbreak of dengue, supporting the formulation and implementation of public health interventions.
5. Combination with Other Detection Methods:
● NS1 antigen detection can be combined with IgM and IgG antibody tests and PCR detection, providing comprehensive diagnostic information and improving diagnostic accuracy.
NS1 antigen, as an early diagnostic marker for dengue, has significant clinical and public health importance. Its high specificity and sensitivity make it a critical tool for the rapid diagnosis of dengue. By combining it with other detection methods, NS1 antigen testing provides comprehensive diagnostic information, supporting timely and effective patient management and disease control measures.
Bioeast Biotech
As a global supplier of core biological materials and comprehensive solutions, Bioeast Biotech is committed to providing customers with high-quality products and services. We are proud to introduce our Dengue NS1 raw material product, which not only boasts exceptional quality, but also incorporates the advanced technology of Biotin-Avidin—System(BAS). The BAS is an efficient and reliable technique that plays a crucial role in the diagnostic process.
If you're not yet familiar with biotin amplification, we invite you to refer to our introduction in another post, where you can learn more about its principles and applications. We firmly believe that by combining our Dengue NS1 raw material product with the BAS, you will achieve more accurate and reliable experimental results, providing strong support for research and diagnostic work.
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Bioeast Product Recommendation
For Dengue NS1 testing, Bioeast Biotech introduces one type of Dengue NS1 monoclonal antibody. Additionally, a corresponding SA antigen is provided. See Table 1 for details:
Table 1: Pairing Recommendations for Dengue NS1 with the BAS
PRODUCT NAME | CAT NO. | Type | Application Platform | Pair Recommendation |
Dengue NS1 | NS1101 | Antibody | LF，CLIA，EIA | Conjugate |
NS1101 | Antibody | LF，CLIA，EIA | Coating | |
NS1101 | Antibody | LF，CLIA，EIA | Coating | |
Streptavidin | SA402 | Antigen | LF | Coating |
Reference
A review on structural genomics approach applied for drug discovery against three vector-borne viral diseases: Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/a-3D-structure-of-Dengue-virus-NS1-protein-PDB-ID-4OIG-b-Peptide-inhibitors-designed_fig4_359815960 [accessed 22 May, 2024]