A molecular and immunological investigation of cellular responses to dengue virus identification of potentially upregulated host genes and the constructionof a vaccinia virus expressing the dengue 1 Hawaii NS3 protein.

by Brown, Jennifer L.

The purpose of this thesis for the degree of Master of Science was to use molecular and immunological techniques to study cellular responses to dengue virus infection. In the initial study, Differential Display was used to compare mRNA expression in dengue-infected K562 cells and mockinfected cells. Cloning and sequencing were then used to identify cellular genes that were potentially up-regulated in response to Dengue virus infection. These genes included bleomycin hydrolase and a dystrophin homologue. The goal of the later part of this research was to construct a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the dengue 1 Hawaii NS3 protein. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte assays and protein gel electrophoresis showed that the NS3 protein was being expressed. This construct was then used to study the cytotoxic T-cell response of a dengue 1 vaccine recipient. The results of this study showed that this individual has dengue 1 NS3 specific T-cells and also that this vaccinia virus can be used for subsequent T-cell studies. ii