EU supports DZL researchers in the fight against Dengue fever

A small bite with devastating consequences: Each year, up to 100 million people worldwide contract Dengue fever, with the numbers on the rise. Mosquitoes transmit this viral disease, which causes severe muscle and joint pain and can lead to death in severe cases. While Dengue fever has primarily occurred in tropical and subtropical regions, the risk of contracting the disease is also rising in Europe due to climate change. Combating this dangerous virus is the goal of the new research initiative COMBAT, in which researchers from Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) are participating. The EU is funding the project with nearly eight million euros over five years, of which approximately 450,000 euros will go to JLU.

Within the COMBAT network, experts from various disciplines are working together. Their mission is to better understand the effects of Dengue virus infections on the human immune system and to find new therapies to prevent severe complications such as organ failure and brain damage. In addition, the researchers aim to develop affordable diagnostic tools that could be used in future pandemics. Cutting-edge technologies such as high-resolution optical microscopy, AI-based early detection, and so-called multi-omics analyses are being employed, in which the researchers look at various biological systems like the microbiome or metabolism in combination.

One such multi-omics analysis is also being used by researchers at JLU, led by Prof. Dr. Rajkumar Savai. They focus on spatial proteomics and metabolomics in the brain, investigating how Dengue fever affects neural proteins and metabolites: "We can create a detailed real-time image of the disease’s impact on the nervous system, which will help us develop better therapy options for affected individuals," says Prof. Savai, DZL researcher and professor at the Institute for Lung Health at JLU.

Another research team at JLU is simultaneously working on identifying so-called biomarkers for Dengue fever—biological markers that can help make an early diagnosis and predict the disease's progression. Led by Prof. Dr. Soni Savai Pullamsetti, the team is using a combination of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. According to Prof. Pullamsetti, this approach is not only useful for combating Dengue fever but also helps better understand and treat other lung and heart diseases in the future: "Our research will also contribute to improving the understanding and treatment of other lung and heart diseases."

The Swedish Karolinska Institute in Stockholm coordinates the COMBAT research initiative. The acronym stands for “Advancing Pandemic Preparedness: Innovative Multidisciplinary Strategies for COMBATing Severe Dengue.” In addition to JLU, partner institutions from the Netherlands, Norway, and India are involved in the consortium.

Prof. Dr. Rajkumar Savai. Foto: Rolf K. Wegst		Prof. Dr. Soni Savai Pullamsetti. Foto: Rolf K. Wegst

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