Computational Analysis of Dengue and Chikungunya Viral Gene Sequences To Elucidate Their Transmission and/or Symptoms Similarity

Dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses are enveloped positive-strand RNA mosquito-borne viruse s that have been disseminated worldwide. Both the viruses ar dissimilar in many aspects like genome organiza tion and expression, particle size and taxonomical status except two sim ilar aspects i.e. mode of transmission and the dise ase pathogenecity. Reports are indicating the co-infection of the both the viruses in a same patient. In view of similarities and/or dissimilarities between these two viruses, we indented to identify the existence of h omology between any two gene sequences of which one fr m each virus. For this study we have analyzed all the structural and non s tructural nucleotide sequences of DENV type 1 (ACCE SSION no. NC_001477) and CHIKV IND-06-Guj strain (ACCESSION no. JF272477 ) using the computational techniques. The results indicated that there is no homology between structural genes of both viruse s. But analysis of the non-structural genes reveal d that DENV NS4B and CHIKV nsp2 is showing the considerable homology. It is reported that DENV NS4B is involved in maintain ing the replication balance in mosquito and human hosts. Hence we predi ct based on our results, CHIKV nsp2 which is showin g homology with the DENV NS4B also serving same purpose in case of CHIK V. Further functional analysis of DENV NS4B and CHI KV nsP2 revealed the information that both have role in IFN inhibiti on and likely to have an important role in viral pa thogenesis. Identification of common or shared epitopes on these polypeptides cou ld lead to the development of an immunogen which co uld serve as vaccine candidate for both the viruses.