An overview of Chikungunya virus

A review targeting the infection by CHIKV using computational and experimental approaches

The rise of normal body temperature of 98.6 °F beyond 100.4 °F in humans indicates fever due to some illness or infection. Viral infections caused by different viruses are one of the major causes of fever. One of such viruses is, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is known to cause Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) which is transmitted to humans through the mosquitoes, which actually become the primary source of transmission of the virus. The genomic structure of the CHIKV consists of the two open reading frames (ORFs). The first one is a 5' end ORF and it encodes the nonstructural protein (nsP1-nsP4). The second is a 3' end ORF and it encodes the structural proteins, which is consisted of capsid, envelope (E), accessory peptides, E3 and 6 K. Till date, there is no effective vaccine or medicine available for early detection of the CHIKV infection and appropriate diagnosis to cure the patients from the infection. NSP3 of CHIKV is the prime target of the researchers as it is responsible for the catalytic activity. This review has updates of literature on CHIKV; pathogenesis of CHIKV; inhibition of CHIKV using theoretical and experimental approaches.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

RNA Helicase A Regulates the Replication of RNA Viruses

The RNA helicase A (RHA) is a member of DExH-box helicases and characterized by two double-stranded RNA binding domains at the N-terminus. RHA unwinds double-stranded RNA in vitro and is involved in RNA metabolisms in the cell. RHA is also hijacked by a variety of RNA viruses to facilitate virus replication. Herein, this review will provide an overview of the role of RHA in the replication of RNA viruses.

Chikungunya in a Pediatric Traveler

Chikungunya is a mosquito-transmitted virus found primarily in Africa and Asia. In late 2013, chikungunya virus emerged in the Western hemisphere, spreading from the Caribbean to South, Central, and North America (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63:1121-1128). Symptoms can be similar to nonspecific viral presentations including fever, joint pain, joint swelling, and rash. The diagnosis of infectious tropical diseases in the emergency department often requires a high index of suspicion, given the nonspecific early findings that characterize many of these tropical diseases. This report presents a case of chikungunya in a pediatric patient traveling from Guatemala to the United States. Proper recognition of infection and diagnosis are vital from a public health perspective. Considering patients will remain viremic for up to a week and potentially expose local mosquitoes to infection, it is important to educate the patient on mosquito bite prevention in geographic areas of the United States where competent mosquito vectors exist as a means of avoiding further spread.

Mosquito-borne viral diseases and potential transmission blocking vaccine candidates

Mosquito-borne viral diseases (MBVDs) have a complex biological cycle involving vectors and vertebrate hosts. These viruses are responsible for many deadly diseases worldwide. Although MBVDs threaten mostly developing countries, there is growing evidence indicating that they are also of concern in western countries where local transmission of arboviruses such as West Nile, Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue viruses have been recently reported. The rapid rise in human infections caused by these viruses is attributed to rapid climate change and travel facilities. Usually, the only way to control these diseases relies on the control of vectors in the absence of licensed vaccines and specific treatments. However, the overuse of insecticides has led to the emergence of insecticide resistance in vector populations, posing significant challenges for their control. An alternative method for reducing MBVDs can be the use of Transmission Blocking Vaccines (TBVs) that limits viral infection at the mosquito vector stage. Some successes have been obtained confirming the potential application of TBVs against viruses; however, this approach remains at the developmental stage and still needs improvements. The present review aims to give an update on MBVDs and to discuss the application as well as usage of potential TBVs for the control of mosquito-borne viral infections.

The medicinal chemistry of Chikungunya virus

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are an important threat to human and animal health globally. Among these, zoonotic diseases account for billions of cases of human illness and millions of deaths every year, representing an increasing public health problem. Chikungunya virus belongs to the genus Alphavirus of the family Togariridae, and is transmitted mainly by the bite of female mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti and/or A. albopictus species. The focus of this review will be on the medicinal chemistry of Chikungunya virus, including synthetic and natural products, as well as rationally designed compounds.

The emergence of arthropod-borne viral diseases: A global prospective on dengue, chikungunya and zika fevers

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) present a substantial threat to human and animal health worldwide. Arboviruses can cause a variety of clinical presentations that range from mild to life threatening symptoms. Many arboviruses are present in nature through two distinct cycles, the urban and sylvatic cycle that are maintained in complex biological cycles. In this review we briefly discuss the factors driving the emergence of arboviruses, such as the anthropogenic aspects of unrestrained human population growth, economic expansion and globalization. Also the important aspects of viruses and vectors in the occurrence of arboviruses epidemics. The focus of this review will be on dengue, zika and chikungunya viruses, particularly because these viruses are currently causing a negative impact on public health and economic damage around the world.