Development, characterization and application of monoclonal antibodies against Brazilian Dengue virus isolates.
Authors: Zanluca Camila, Mazzarotto Giovanny Augusto Camacho Antevere, Bordignon Juliano, Duarte Dos Santos Claudia Nunes
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary **Note:** This paper concerns human dengue virus diagnostics and is not directly applicable to equine practice. However, it may be of tangential interest to equine professionals working in endemic regions, as dengue shares epidemiological characteristics with equine arboviruses. Dengue remains the world's most significant human arboviral disease, yet diagnostic tools developed using Brazilian isolates—where dengue is highly endemic—were previously unavailable. Researchers produced 22 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Brazilian strains of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2 and 3, characterising their specificity and cross-reactivity patterns across flaviviruses and alphaviruses. The antibodies exhibited variable reactivity profiles: some were group-specific, others recognised specific serotype combinations (dengue-1/3/4 or dengue-2/3), and a subset showed serotype-exclusive binding; notably, several mAbs cross-reacted with yellow fever, West Nile and Saint Louis encephalitis viruses, but not Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Three mAbs proved suitable for developing a capture ELISA assay capable of detecting anti-dengue IgM in acute patient serum, establishing a diagnostically useful tool for dengue detection in endemic populations. Whilst this work primarily addresses human disease surveillance and diagnostic development, equine professionals managing horses in dengue-endemic regions should be aware that similar monoclonal antibody approaches could be adapted for equine arboviral diagnostics, particularly given the cross-reactivity patterns observed with related flaviviruses.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •This research is not applicable to equine practice; it focuses on human dengue virus diagnostics and monoclonal antibody development for human serological testing
- •The study has no direct relevance to equine health, disease management, or clinical practice
- •While Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is mentioned, this paper does not address equine applications or implications
Key Findings
- •22 monoclonal antibodies were successfully developed against Brazilian dengue virus isolates (DENV-1, -2, and -3)
- •mAbs demonstrated variable reactivity patterns including group-specific, subcomplex-specific, and serotype-specific recognition
- •Some mAbs cross-reacted with yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, and Saint Louis encephalitis virus but not Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
- •Three mAbs (D3 424/8G, D1 606/A12/B9, D1 695/12C/2H) were successfully used to develop a capture ELISA for anti-dengue IgM detection