Antiviral immunotherapy for mosquito-borne flaviviruses: A review of current status

Abstract

Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are a group of viruses belonging to the genus flavivirus and the family flaviviridae. Dengue Virus, Yellow Fever Virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus and West Nile Virus are some examples of the medically important flaviviruses. The disease manifestations of these flaviviruses range from the mild febrile fever to the life-threatening encephalitis and hemorrhagic manifestation. Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are human pathogens of increasing global importance as they become more prevalent due to changes in the world climate and globalization. Extensive research has been carried out to understand these viruses and to devise ways to effectively treat the diseases caused by these mosquito-borne flaviviruses. However, no effective anti-viral treatment for these flaviviruses is currently available. Many novel anti-viral immunotherapy approaches are now being undertaken to find ways to effectively counter these viruses. This review will outline the potential anti-viral immunotherapies that can be used to treat these mosquito-borne flavivirus infections. Various strategies used for the discovery of potentially therapeutic antibody against these flaviviruses will also be discussed. © 2010 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.