Recognizes all four dengue virus serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4) of the genus Flavivirus. The dengue virus is responsible for the tropical and sub-tropical diseases, dengue (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), transmitted to individuals through the bite of the Aedes mosquito.
The global distribution of dengue is expanding and comparable to that of malaria, with symptoms ranging from a mild viral syndrome of high fever, rash, headache, fatigue and muscle and joint pain, to the more severe and sometimes fatal DHF.
Each dengue virus serotype is antigenically distinct, such that infection only provides an individual with immunity to the causative serotype, with the possibility of further infection by a different serotype or even multiple serotypes. Detects an anti-E/envelope specific band of 61kD under reducing conditions in Western blotting. A weak secondary band of 80kD may also be apparent
