New research has discovered an antibody that could fight the deadly tropical disease dengue fever. Already experimental vaccinations in animals are proving effective at preventing the disease.

The study was published in the Journal of Science by collaborators from Vanderbilt University and the National University of Singapore. It reveals a human monoclonal antibody which strongly neutralized the virus in animal models.

This breakthrough is truly remarkable given the complexity of the dengue virus. Dengue is actually a complex of four distinct mosquito-borne viruses, referred to as stereotypes. Each stereotype is composed of different proteins.

Previous attempts to combat the disease have struggled to overcome all four stereotypes at once. In the event that a vaccine or treatment can defeat the first stereotype, the second becomes stronger and more deadly.

The enhancement of the infection by a second serotype happens by a process known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection. Sequential infections increase the risk for dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, characterized by fever, vomiting, internal bleeding and potentially fatal circulatory collapse.

Mosquitos infect 390 million people a year with dengue fever. It is widely considered to be the leading cause of illness and death in the tropics.

“Scientists in the antibody discovery group of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Centre continue to make great strides in developing novel antiviral drugs,” said co-corresponding author James Crowe Jr. “This human antibody not only kills dengue virus but also prevents enhanced dengue disease.”

It is hoped that this new research will contribute to the creation of vaccinations and treatments for this lethal disease.