Genomic Variations in the Dengue Virus Non-Structural Protein 4A

Abstract

Objective: To identify the most common geographic specific mutations in the Dengue Virus Non-Structural Protein 4A circulating in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Material and Methods: This research was conducted at Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Aziz Fatimah Hospital and Allied Hospital Faisalabad during the dengue outbreak of 2022. About 120 DENV isolates were selected from the laboratories of tertiary care hospitals of Faisalabad and Lahore for analysis of sequencing of the whole genome. Only 23 samples were sequenced after viral isolation, quantification, and cDNA synthesis.
Results: A total of 88 different types of mutations with different frequencies in all domains have been
detected in NS4A proteins. Those mutations which presented with the most frequency were Q19L, I89M, and
A93V (n=6) each R76K (n=5), V2I (n=4), and G38E (n=3).
Conclusion: Future DENV vaccination development research will be especially profited by the mutations found in the current study. Genomic epidemiology during each DENV outbreak in various regions is essential for improving public health and creating new regulations for outbreaks in the future.
Keywords: DENV; genome; mutations; Pakistan; Non-Structural proteins; NS4A