How the viral protein NS1 causes blood vessel leak in dengue, Zika, and related infections
Official title: Host factors and viral determinants mediating flavivirus NS1 tissue-specific endothelial dysfunction and vascular leak
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11379940 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how a viral protein called NS1 harms blood vessel linings in people with dengue, Zika, or similar infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | April 18, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $588,151 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI168003-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379940 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with current or recent dengue, Zika, West Nile, or other flavivirus infections, or those willing to donate blood samples during or after infection.
✕Less likely to help
People without flavivirus infections or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to see direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research right away.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how the NS1 protein, released by dengue and other flaviviruses, enters blood vessel cells and activates enzymes that strip away protective coatings and loosen cell junctions. They use lab-grown human endothelial cells and mouse models to see which tissues are affected and to compare NS1 proteins from different flaviviruses. The team measures enzyme activity, glycocalyx damage, and organ-specific leakage to explain why some viruses cause brain disease while others cause systemic vascular leak. The goal is to find biological targets that could prevent or reduce dangerous blood vessel leakage in infected people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new treatments or tests to prevent or reduce dangerous vascular leak in people with severe flavivirus infections.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory and mouse studies have shown that NS1 can cause endothelial damage and vascular leak, but translating those findings into human treatments remains early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, Eva — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Harris, Eva
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.