Dengue fever is the most common arbovirus in the world, and all four serotypes are infectious and pathogenic, but dengue virus (DENV)-1 and DENV-2 are the most prevalent in Guangdong Province. To investigate the differences in serotypes, we evaluated the replication, pathogenicity, and NS1 expression of DENV-2 and DENV-3 in cells, and further investigated the effects of NS1 on viral replication and transmission. The results of this study indicated that DENV-2 replicated faster and was more pathogenic than DENV-3. In Vero cells, DENV-2 secreted more NS1 protein than DENV-3, and NS1 protein promoted the infection of Aedes albopictus and A. aegypti by DENV. The spread of DENV and the severity of the disease depend on many factors. Further research on the differences between different serotypes of DENV will help us understand the epidemiology of DENV infection. This will provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of the dengue epidemic.
Keywords: Aedes aegypti; Aedes albopictus; NS1 protein; dengue virus; viral replication.