Unraveling dengue virus-host interactions through transcriptomics: Insights into disease progression and severity signatures

Dengue virus (DENV) remains a major global health concern, characterized by complex virus-host interactions that are not yet fully understood. Advances in transcriptomic technologies have become crucial for uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying DENV infection. This review summarizes recent transcriptomic studies, spanning microarrays, bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), virus-inclusive single-cell RNA-seq (ViscRNA-seq), and spatial transcriptomics. that have deepened our understanding of how DENV modulates host gene expression. These approaches have revealed critical immune responses, viral evasion strategies, and gene expression signatures linked to disease progression and severity. Moreover, transcriptomic analyses have facilitated the discovery of potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and novel targets for antiviral therapy. By integrating findings from diverse experimental models and technologies, this review underscores the pivotal role of transcriptomics in elucidating DENV pathogenesis. Collectively, these insights provide a robust foundation for developing improved diagnostics and therapeutic interventions against dengue.