Genetic Influences on Dengue Virus Infections: Chapter 15

Dengue virus infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the tropics, with 100 million people infected annually and an estimated 2.5 billion people at risk. Human infections can be asymptomatic or can manifest as the self-limited febrile dengue fever, or the more severe and lifethreatening dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). There are several possible reasons why some infected individuals might develop a more severe form of the disease than others. Antibody enhancement and viral virulence have been implicated in the pathogenesis of DHF but host genetic factors may also be relevant and predispose some individuals to DHF. This review discusses the possible involvement of a variety of genetic polymorphisms on the course of dengue virus infections. It has been shown that several common genetic polymorphisms can influence the susceptibility to dengue haemorrhagic fever. Gene polymorphisms concerning human leucocyte antigens, antibody receptors, inflammatory mediators and other factors with immunoregulatory effects are described. The study of genetic polymorphisms might provide important insights into the pathogenesis of a more severe disease and could have an impact on the design of future vaccines.