Dengue Fever Susceptibility

Cecile Julier and colleagues found that a particular variant of this gene was associated with strong protection from severe dengue fever within 3 groups in Thailand. Interestingly, the variant was not associated with protection from the related dengue hemorrhagic fever, suggesting a different role for this gene in the development of these two diseases. This gene mediates the attachment of the dengue virus receptor to human cells and is required for successful infection.

Author Contact:

Cecile Julier (Institut Pasteur, Paris, France)
E-mail: cjulier@pasteur.fr

Also available online.

(C) Nature Genetics press release.

Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza