Exploring Host Factors of the Human Metabolism as Promising Targets for Dengue Treatment

Abstract

The absence of specific therapy and the challenges posed by currently available palliative drugs, such as paracetamol, underscore the urgent need for targeting medications against dengue. Extensive research in the field of antiviral therapies has primarily focused on investigating viral proteins as potential targets. However, despite these efforts, finding an effective therapy for dengue fever remains a daunting task. Importantly, like all viruses, Dengue virus relies on human host proteins to enable infection. Recognizing this fact has prompted the consideration of host factors as viable targets for intervention strategies to combat the infection. This chapter aims to provide an overview of host-virus interactions during Dengue virus infection, emphasizing the importance of metabolic pathways, as well as molecular and cellular processes such as lipid metabolism, autophagy, apoptosis, and the immune system, which are critical for virus propagation. The main goal here is to expand the list of human factors that could serve as potential drug targets. Additionally, molecules that interact with these factors are explored for their therapeutic potential. This comprehensive exploration of host-virus interactions lays the groundwork for more effective dengue treatments. The molecules highlighted here hold promise as antiviral agents, and their inclusion in repurposing research could expedite the development of therapies for dengue fever.