Indonesia has the second-highest number of dengue fever (DHF) cases worldwide each year. Approximately 70% of children in Indonesia have been infected with the dengue virus at least once, and many of these cases result in death.

Like other viral diseases, dengue fever has no cure. Vaccines and antivirals are typically used to treat the virus.

This was stated by Dr. Anom Bowolaksono, M.Sc., a molecular biologist from the Department of Biology, FMIPA UI, to the FMIPA UI public relations team in a short interview via message. whatsapp.

“A dengue vaccine has actually been discovered, but due to its lack of specificity, trial data shows its effectiveness is still very low,” Anom said.

Therefore, Anom continued, there is still a need for antiviral treatment and new, more effective antiviral candidates to overcome this.

With this background, he and British researcher Peter Barlow from Edinburgh Napier University collaborated to create a new breakthrough to combat dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) by conducting a research project entitled “Cathelicidins as Novel Therapeutic Antivirals for Dengue Infection”.

In their research project, he and Peter will test the cathelicidins molecules produced by the human immune system, whether these molecules as new antiviral candidates can be modified to combat dengue fever.

Cathelicidins are members of the host defense peptides (or antimicrobial proteins) that also possess immunomodulatory activity and excellent antiviral properties. These molecules are naturally found in the blood serum of both humans and other vertebrates. They also play a crucial role in infections as antimicrobials and antivirals.

Through his research project, he obtained research funding through the Newton Fund research program between the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education.