Antiviral agents for dengue virus.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen responsible for a spectrum of illnesses, including dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. Nearly half of the global population is at risk of DENV infection, making it a pressing public health issue worldwide. The limited cross-protection among the four DENV serotypes (DENV1-4) and the phenomenon of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) have posed significant challenges to the development of effective dengue vaccines. Furthermore, there are currently no specific antiviral treatments available. This review provides an overview of DENV's key characteristics, clinical manifestations, and recent advancements in antiviral drug development- including the repurposing of approved drugs, peptide-based antiviral agents, therapeutic antibodies, natural products with antiviral potential, and host factor inhibitors- aiming to offer critical insights to inform strategies for managing and preventing dengue outbreaks.