The dengue virus non-structural 1 protein: Risks and benefits

•The importance of the NS1 protein in DENV cycle.•Proposed roles for DENV NS1 protein in pathogenesis.•The history of the NS1 protein as a vaccine antigen.•DENV NS1 as a target for antiviral drugs.•DENV NS1: Concluding about risks and benefits. The dengue virus (DENV) non-structural 1 (NS1) protein plays a critical role in viral RNA replication and has a central position in DENV pathogenesis. DENV NS1 is a glycoprotein expressed in infected mammalian cells as soluble monomers that dimerize in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum; NS1 is subsequently transported to the cell surface, where it remains membrane associated or is secreted into the extracellular milieu as a hexameric complex. During the last three decades, the DENV NS1 protein has also been intensively investigated as a potential target for vaccines and antiviral drugs. In addition, NS1 is the major diagnostic marker for dengue infection. This review highlights some important issues regarding the role of NS1 in DENV pathogenesis and its biotechnological applications, both as a target for the development of safe and effective vaccines and antiviral drugs and as a tool for the generation of accurate diagnostic methods.