Comparison of Dengue Virus and HCV: From Impact on Global Health to their RNA-dependent RNA Polymerases

Upon the discovery of HCV, dengue virus (DENV) and other flaviviruses have served as models to unravel the biology and mechanisms at play during HCV replication. HCV research has rapidly become a well-established field. Recently, several specific anti-HCV antiviral drugs have been discovered and approved for use in the clinic. Now, the strong emergence of DENV in the world and the associated increasing burden is casting light back to dengue virology and anti-dengue drug discovery. HCV polymerase (NS5B) is a prime target in antiviral therapies, and the analogous DENV polymerase (NS5) is also becoming one. Although both enzymes share common fold and function to some extent, a significant amount of unique structural and functional features have to be clearly delineated to efficiently translate drug design potential between these two essential enzymes.