Purification of native dengue-2 viral proteins and the ability of purified proteins to protect mice.

Both the envelope structural protein and the non-structural NS1 protein have been purified from the flavivirus dengue-2 by high-pressure liquid chromatography. These purified proteins maintain their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies. When tested in mice, the envelope protein elicited neutralizing antibodies and partially protected the animals against a lethal viral challenge. The mice responded to the non-structural protein by producing antibodies; however, these antibodies were not neutralizing and the mice were not protected.