Immune Response to Dengue Viral Infection

Dear Colleagues,

Dengue virus (DENV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, poses a significant global health burden, with over 100 million symptomatic infections annually. The immune response to DENV infection is a double-edged sword: while adaptive immunity can confer long-term serotype-specific protection, cross-reactive antibodies and T-cells may exacerbate disease severity during secondary heterotypic infections, a phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Innate immune mechanisms, including interferon signaling, dendritic cell activation, and inflammatory cytokine production, play critical roles in early viral control but may also contribute to immunopathology in severe dengue (e.g., hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome). Current research focuses on unraveling the balance between protective and pathogenic immune responses, identifying correlates of protection, and understanding how viral evolution and host genetic factors modulate immunity.

This Special Issue explores advances in molecular immunology, vaccine design (e.g., live-attenuated, subunit, or mRNA platforms), and therapeutic strategies targeting host immune pathways. Topics also include cross-protective immunity, the role of pre-existing immunity to related flaviviruses (e.g., Zika), and innovative biomarkers for predicting disease progression. Contributions addressing gaps in diagnostics, vaccine efficacy, and immunomodulatory therapies are encouraged to inform global dengue control efforts.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. Dengue virus infection;
2. Immune response;
3. Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE);
4. Cross-reactive immunity;
5. Viral pathogenesis;
6. Cytokine storm;
7. Neutralizing antibodies;
8. T-cell response;
9. Vaccine development;
10. Dengue serotypes;
11. Host–pathogen interactions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Bo Peng
Dr. Xiaolu Shi
Guest Editors

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