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This page shows you the latest news and research items in this category.

New Method For Next-Generation Live-Attenuated Viral Vaccines Against Chikungunya Virus Shows Promise
Researchers have successfully applied a novel method of vaccine creation for Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) using a technique called large scale random codon re-encoding. Using this approach, a group from the UMR_D 190, Emerging viruses Department in Marseille, France in collaboration with the University of Sydney, Australia, demonstrated that the engineered viruses exhibit a stable phenotype with a significantly decreased viral fitness (i.e., replication capacity), making it a new vaccine candidate for this emerging viral disease... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - February 25, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Tropical Diseases Source Type: news

Random Codon Re-Encoding Induces Stable Reduction Of Replicative Fitness Of Chikungunya Virus In Primate And Mosquito Cells
A promising new method for next-generation live-attenuated viral vaccines against Chikungunya virus Researchers have successfully applied a novel method of vaccine creation for Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) using a technique called large scale random codon re-encoding.Â� Using this approach, a group from the UMR_D 190, Emerging viruses Department in Marseille, France in collaboration with the University of Sydney, Australia, demonstrated that the engineered viruses exhibit a stable phenotype with a significantly decreased viral fitness (i.e... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - February 21, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Tropical Diseases Source Type: news

'Alien' wildlife in Europe wreaks €12bn damage a year, study shows
From tiger mosquitoes to ragweed, more than 10,000 invasive species are putting increasing pressure on the natural worldAnimals and plants brought to Europe from other parts of the world are a bigger-than-expected threat to health and the environment costing at least €12bn (£10bn) a year, according to a study published on Thursday.More than 10,000 "alien" species have gained a foothold in Europe, from Asian tiger mosquitoes to North American ragweed, and at least 1,500 are known to be harmful, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said."In many areas, ecosystems are weakened by pollution, climate change and fragmentatio...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - February 21, 2013 Category: Science Tags: Biodiversity Biology World news guardian.co.uk Endangered species Europe Animals Plants Zoology Conservation Environment Invasive species Science Wildlife Source Type: news

A promising new method for next-generation live-attenuated viral vaccines against Chikungunya virus
(Public Library of Science) Researchers have applied a novel method of vaccine creation for Chikungunya virus using a technique called large scale random codon re-encoding. Using this approach, a group from the UMR_D 190, Emerging viruses Department in Marseille, France, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, Australia, demonstrated that the engineered viruses exhibit a stable phenotype with a significantly decreased viral fitness, making it a new vaccine candidate for this emerging viral disease. This paper publishes on Feb. 21 in the open-access journal, PLOS Pathogens. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - February 21, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Nonstructural Protein 2 (nsP2) of Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) Enhances Protective Immunity Mediated by a CHIKV Envelope Protein Expressing DNA Vaccine
Viral Immunology Feb 2013, Vol. 26, No. 1: 75-83. (Source: Viral Immunology)
Source: Viral Immunology - February 14, 2013 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: article Source Type: research

BST-2/tetherin-mediated restriction of chikungunya (CHIKV) VLP budding is counteracted by CHIKV non-structural protein 1 (nsP1).
Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging alphavirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Infection with CHIKV elicits a type I interferon response that facilities virus clearance, probably through the action of down-stream effectors such as antiviral IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Bone marrow stromal antigen 2 (BST-2) is an ISG shown to restrict HIV-1 replication by preventing the infection of bystander cells by tethering progeny virions on the surface of infected cells. Here we show that enrichment of cell surface BST-2 results in retention of CHIKV virus like particles (VLPs) on the cell membrane. BST-2 was ...
Source: Virology - February 11, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Jones PH, Maric M, Madison MN, Maury W, Roller RJ, Okeoma CM Tags: Virology Source Type: research

Emergence of chikungunya seropositivity in healthy Malaysian adults residing in outbreak-free locations:Chikungunya seroprevalence results from the Malaysian Cohort
Conclusions: This study provided evidence that CHIK is slowly emerging in Malaysia. Although the current baseline seroprevalence is low in this country, increasing number of CHIK cases reported to the Malaysia Ministry of Health imply the possibility of CHIK virus becoming endemic in Malaysia. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
Source: BMC Infectious Diseases - February 5, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Nor AzamiSharifah SallehShamsul ShahHui-min NeohZulhabri OthmanSyed ZakariaRahman Jamal Source Type: research

Computer-aided identification, design and synthesis of a novel series of compounds with selective antiviral activity against chikungunya virus.
Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an Arbovirus that is transmitted to humans primarily by the mosquito species Aedes aegypti. Infection with this pathogen is often associated with fever, rash and arthralgia. Neither a vaccine nor an antiviral drug is available for the prevention or treatment of this disease. Albeit considered a tropical pathogen, adaptation of the virus to the mosquito species Aedes albopictus, which is also very common in temperate zones, has resulted in recent outbreaks in Europe and the US. In the present study, we report on the discovery of a novel series of compounds that inhibit CHIKV rep...
Source: Antiviral Research - February 1, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Bassetto M, De Burghgraeve T, Delang L, Massarotti A, Coluccia A, Zonta N, Gatti V, Colombano G, Sorba G, Romano S, Tron GC, Neyts J, Leyssen P, Brancale A Tags: Antiviral Res Source Type: research

Differential unfolded protein response during Chikungunya and Sindbis virus infection: CHIKV nsP4 suppresses eIF2alpha phosphorylation
This study provides insight into a mechanism by which CHIKV replication responds to overcome the host UPR machinery. (Source: Virology Journal)
Source: Virology Journal - January 28, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Abhay RathoreMah-Lee NgSubhash Vasudevan Source Type: research

Rapid blood meal scoring in anthropophilic Aedes albopictus and application of PCR blocking to avoid pseudogenes.
Abstract Blood meal analysis (BMA) is a useful tool for epidemiologists and vector ecologists to assess which vector species are critical to disease transmission. In most current BMA assays vertebrate primers amplify DNA from a blood meal, commonly an abundant mitochondrial (mtDNA) locus, which is then sequenced and compared to known sequences in GenBank to identify its source. This technique, however, is time consuming and costly as each individual sample must be sequenced for species identification and mixed blood meals cloned prior to sequencing. Further, we found that several standard BMA vertebrate primers mat...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - January 24, 2013 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Egizi A, Healy SP, Fonseca DM Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: research

The influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Reunion Island: knowledge, perceived risk and precautionary behaviour
Conclusion: Inhabitants of Reunion Island have expressed a preventive approach adapted to the realities of the H1N1 pandemic, a feature that likely reflects some preparedness gained after the large and severe chikungunya epidemic that hit the island in 2006. The degree of severity was well assessed despite the initial alarmist messages disseminated by national and international media. Precautions that were undertaken matched the degree of severity of the epidemic and the recommendations issued by health authorities. Further qualitative studies are needed to help adapting public messages to the social and cultural realities...
Source: BMC Infectious Diseases - January 24, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: François TaglioniMichel CartouxKoussay DellagiCécile DalbanAdrian FianuFabrice CarratFrançois Favier Source Type: research

A Phenotypic Assay to Identify Chikungunya Virus Inhibitors Targeting the Nonstructural Protein nsP2
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted pathogen responsible for an acute infection of abrupt onset, characterized by high fever, polyarthralgia, myalgia, headaches, chills, and rash. In 2006, CHIKV was responsible for an epidemic outbreak of unprecedented magnitude in the Indian Ocean, stressing the need for therapeutic approaches. Since then, we have acquired a better understanding of CHIKV biology, but we are still missing active molecules against this reemerging pathogen. We recently reported that the nonstructural nsP2 protein of CHIKV induces a transcriptional shutoff that allows the virus to block cellul...
Source: Journal of Biomolecular Screening - January 16, 2013 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Lucas-Hourani, M., Lupan, A., Despres, P., Thoret, S., Pamlard, O., Dubois, J., Guillou, C., Tangy, F., Vidalain, P.-O., Munier-Lehmann, H. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Predictors of Chikungunya rheumatism: a prognostic survey ancillary to the TELECHIK cohort study
Conclusions: Our data support the roles of age, severity at presentation and CHIKV specific IgG titres for predicting CHIK-R. By identifying the prognostic value of the humoral immune response of the host, this work also suggest a significant contribution of the adaptive immune response to the physiopathology of CHIK-R and should help to reconsider the paradigm of this chronic infection primarily shifted towards the involvement of the innate immune response. (Source: Arthritis Research and Therapy)
Source: Arthritis Research and Therapy - January 9, 2013 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Patrick GerardinAdrian FianuAlain MichaultCorinne MussardKarim BoussaidOlivier RollotPhilippe GrivardSomar KassabEric BouquillardGianandrea BorgheriniBernard-Alex GauzereDenis MalvyGerard BreartFrancois Favier Source Type: research

Climate Change May Bring Another Mosquito-Borne Illness to U.S.
Study uses computer model to assess risk of Chikungunya virus Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Climate Change, Insect Bites and Stings, Viral Infections (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - January 3, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Inhibition of chikungunya virus replication by harringtonine, a novel antiviral that suppresses viral protein expression.
This study suggests for the first time that harringtonine exerts its antiviral effects by inhibiting CHIKV viral protein synthesis. PMID: 23275491 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy)
Source: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy - January 1, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Kaur P, Thiruchelvan M, Lee RC, Chen H, Chen KC, Ng ML, Chu JJ Tags: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Source Type: research

Chances Seen Rising For Chikungunya Outbreaks In NYC, Atlanta, Miami
Global travel and climate warming could be creating the right conditions for outbreaks of a new virus in this country, according to a new Cornell University computer model. The model predicts that outbreaks of chikungunya, a painful virus transported by travelers and spread by the invasive Asian tiger mosquito, could occur in 2013 in New York City during August and September, in Atlanta from June through September, and year-round in Miami... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - December 27, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Source Type: news

Mouse macrophage innate immune response to chikungunya virus infection
Chikungunya Virus infected mouse macrophages in vitro, leading to robust TNF-alpha expression with an absence of apoptosis and a poor innate response. This inflammatory response likely contributes to the joint pain often seen during infection. (Source: Virology Journal)
Source: Virology Journal - December 19, 2012 Category: Virology Authors: Shiril KumarMarie-Christine Jaffar-BandjeeClaude GiryLéa Connen de KerillisAndres MeritsPhilippe GasqueJean-Jacques Hoarau Source Type: research

Infection of Aedes albopictus with Chikungunya Virus Rectally Administered by Enema
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases - December 18, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: article Source Type: research

Genomes to Hits in Silico - A Country Path Today, A Highway Tomorrow: A Case Study of Chikungunya.
Genomes to Hits in Silico - A Country Path Today, A Highway Tomorrow: A Case Study of Chikungunya. Curr Pharm Des. 2012 Dec 18; Authors: Soni A, Menaria K, Ray P, Jayaram B Abstract These are exciting times for bioinformaticians, computational biologists and drug designers with the genome and proteome sequences and related structural databases growing at an accelerated pace. The post-genomic era has triggered high expectations for a rapid and successful treatment of diseases. However, in this biological information rich and functional knowledge poor scenario, the challenges are indeed grand, no less than th...
Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design - December 18, 2012 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Soni A, Menaria K, Ray P, Jayaram B Tags: Curr Pharm Des Source Type: research

A New Tool Helps Airports Track Disease
The next time an illness like SARS threatens to sicken large numbers of people around the world, airports may have a new tool to help them prevent a pandemic. Transportation officials and public health experts are pilot testing a Web site that calculates the risk that passengers coming off any given flight are carrying an emerging infectious disease. With funding from the Transportation Research Board, part of the National Research Council, a team of investigators at the University of Florida used airline traffic figures, disease risk maps and climate data to come up with its online vector-borne disease airline importation...
Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed - December 17, 2012 Category: Science Tags: More Science Source Type: research

Chances seen rising for chikungunya outbreaks in NYC, Atlanta, Miami
(Cornell University) Global travel and climate warming could be creating the right conditions for outbreaks of a new virus in this country, according to a new Cornell University computer model that predicts outbreaks of chikungunya, a painful virus transported by travelers and spread by the invasive Asian tiger mosquito, could occur in 2013 in New York City during August and September, in Atlanta from June through September, and year-round in Miami. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - December 17, 2012 Category: Biology Source Type: news

Chikungunya Virus and Prospects for a VaccineChikungunya Virus and Prospects for a Vaccine
There are several vaccine candidates in preclinical and clinical development for the Chikungunya virus. Expert Review of Vaccines (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - December 16, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases Journal Article Source Type: news

Resequencing microarray method for molecular diagnosis of human arboviral diseases
Conclusions: Our data show that high density PID2-RMA was suitable for the identification of medically important arboviruses. It appears to be particularly adapted to the genetic analysis of dengue, West Nile, and Chikungunya viruses in urgent clinical situations where the rapid identification and characterization of the pathogen is essential. (Source: Journal of Clinical Virology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Virology - December 10, 2012 Category: Virology Authors: N. Berthet, S. Paulous, L.L. Coffey, M.P. Frenkiel, I. Moltini, C. Tran, S. Matheus, C. Ottone, M.N. Ungeheuer, C. Renaudat, V. Caro, P. Dussart, A. Gessain, P. Desprès Tags: Full length articles Source Type: research

Larval ecology of mosquitoes in sylvatic arbovirus foci in southeastern Senegal
This paper investigated the ecology of the larval stages of potential sylvatic arbovirus vectors in southeastern Senegal by identifying and characterizing the spatial and temporal dynamics of the mosquito larval microhabitats in several land cover classes, foci of sylvatic dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya transmission. Image: Larval microhabitats of mosquitoes in southeastern Senegal. (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Source: Parasites and Vectors - December 7, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Diawo DialloCheikh DiagneKathryn HanleyAmadou SallMichaela BuenemannYamar BaIbrahima DiaScott WeaverMawlouth Diallo Source Type: research

Inactivation of Chikungunya virus by 1,5 iodonapthyl azide
Conclusion: INA completely inactivated CHIKV and can further be explored for developing an inactivated-CHIKV vaccine. (Source: Virology Journal)
Source: Virology Journal - December 4, 2012 Category: Virology Authors: Anuj SharmaParidhi GuptaRadha Maheshwari Source Type: research

Chikungunya infection in Malaysia: Comparison with dengue infection in adults and predictors of persistent arthralgia
Conclusion: In Kuala Lumpur, selected clinical and laboratory predictors help to distinguish between DENV and CHIKV infections. Persistent arthralgia was a frequent sequel of CHIKV infection in this cohort. (Source: Journal of Clinical Virology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Virology - December 3, 2012 Category: Virology Authors: M.A. Mohd Zim, I.-C. Sam, S.F. Syed Omar, Y.F. Chan, S. AbuBakar, A. Kamarulzaman Tags: Full length articles Source Type: research

Battling malaria iceberg incorporating strategic reforms in achieving Millennium Development Goals & malaria elimination in India.
Battling malaria iceberg incorporating strategic reforms in achieving Millennium Development Goals & malaria elimination in India. Indian J Med Res. 2012 Dec;136(6):907-25 Authors: Sharma VP Abstract Malaria control in India has occupied high priority in health sector consuming major resources of the Central and State governments. Several new initiatives were launched from time to time supported by foreign aids but malaria situation has remained static and worsened in years of good rainfall. At times malaria relented temporarily but returned with vengeance at the local, regional and national level, beco...
Source: The Indian Journal of Medical Research - December 1, 2012 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Sharma VP Tags: Indian J Med Res Source Type: research

Bdelloid rotifer, Philodina species in the breeding containers of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
Abstract The vector mosquitoes of dengue and chikungunya fever, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus have adapted to feed on humans and undergo larval and pupal development in natural and artificial freshwater collections. Although several studies reported, still, much information is required to understand the successful survival of Aedes mosquitoes in small temporary containers. In an investigation conducted in the chikungunya affected areas of Kerala state, India, the presence of Bdelloid rotifer, Philodina in 95% of breeding habitats of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus was recorded. The role of Philodina in th...
Source: Tropical Biomedicine - December 1, 2012 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Muniaraj M, Arunachalam N, Paramasivan R, Mariappan T, Philip Samuel P, Rajamannar V Tags: Trop Biomed Source Type: research

Effects of irradiation, presence of females, and sugar supply on the longevity of sterile males Aedes albopictus (Skuse) under semi-field conditions on Reunion Island.
CONCLUSION: The outcomes indicate that sugar feeding could compensate for sterilization-induced damage, and that mating activity is not deleterious for well-fed males. This study stresses the critical importance of providing suitable sugar sources prior to release during SIT programmes. PMID: 23206578 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Acta Tropica)
Source: Acta Tropica - December 1, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Oliva CF, Maier MJ, Gilles J, Jacquet M, Lemperiere G, Quilici S, Vreysen MJ, Schooneman F, Chadee DD, Boyer S Tags: Acta Trop Source Type: research

Oral Receptivity of Aedes aegypti from Cape Verde for Yellow Fever, Dengue, and Chikungunya Viruses
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases - November 30, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: article Source Type: research

Blood meal induced microRNA regulates development and immune associated genes in the Dengue mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti.
In this study, we found induction of a number of endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) in blood fed (BF) mosquitoes. One of these miRNAs, aae-miR-375, was only detected in BF mosquitoes. Based on target analyses, we found six different genes involved in development and immunity being regulated by aae-miR-375 at the post-transcriptional level. We further confirmed the specific interaction of aae-miR-375 with the target sequences in the transcripts of two immune related genes, cactus and REL1, using a GFP-based reporter assay. Overall, results from this report indicate that miRNAs induced upon blood feeding can regulate the transcri...
Source: Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - November 29, 2012 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Hussain M, Walker T, O'Neill SL, Asgari S Tags: Insect Biochem Mol Biol Source Type: research

Reemergence of chikungunya virus in cambodia.
Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), probably Asian genotype, was first detected in Cambodia in 1961. Despite no evidence of acute or recent CHIKV infections since 2000, real-time reverse transcription PCR of serum collected in 2011 detected CHIKV, East Central South African genotype. Spatiotemporal patterns and phylogenetic clustering indicate that the virus probably originated in Thailand. PMID: 23171736 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - November 28, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Duong V, Andries AC, Ngan C, Sok T, Richner B, Asgari-Jirhandeh N, Bjorge S, Huy R, Ly S, Laurent D, Hok B, Roces MC, Ong S, Char MC, Deubel V, Tarantola A, Buchy P Tags: Emerg Infect Dis Source Type: research

‘Medical Laboratory Without Walls’ Takes Molecular Diagnostics Testing to Remote Places Down Under
Taking molecular biology into the field is a big step forward in moving molecular diagnostics to the gold standard of microbiology laboratory testing An Australian pathologist is pioneering a new approach for showcasing the role of pathology and demonstrating the dramatic potential of mobile medical laboratories. His technique: take a molecular diagnostics laboratory on the [...] (Source: Dark Daily)
Source: Dark Daily - November 26, 2012 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: jude Tags: Instruments & Equipment Laboratory News Laboratory Operations Laboratory Pathology chikungunya clinical laboratory Dark Daily dengue Gram negative Gram-positive Japanese encephalitis virus Lab Without Walls leptospirosis malaria Source Type: news

Viremic profiles in asymptomatic and symptomatic chikungunya fever: a blood transfusion threat?
CONCLUSION: CHIKV infection is highly symptomatic and is associated with high-titred viremia. The viremic levels in asymptomatic CHIKV-infected individuals were in the range known to be capable of transmitting the disease to experimental animals. Asymptomatic CHIKV viremia individuals could be potential disseminators of transfusion-associated chikungunya. PMID: 23176378 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Transfusion)
Source: Transfusion - November 26, 2012 Category: Hematology Authors: Appassakij H, Khuntikij P, Kemapunmanus M, Wutthanarungsan R, Silpapojakul K Tags: Transfusion Source Type: research

Underdiagnosis of Chikungunya Virus Infections in Symptomatic Dutch Travelers Returning From the Indian Ocean Area
A putative underdiagnosis of clinical chikungunya virus infection in Dutch travelers to the Indian Ocean area was addressed by retrospective screening of all sera for which requested dengue virus serology was negative in the period 2007 to 2010. Evidence for a recent infection was observed in 6.5% of 107 patients, indicating a substantial underdiagnosis and the need for increased awareness among physicians. (Source: Journal of Travel Medicine)
Source: Journal of Travel Medicine - November 26, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Chantal B.E.M. Reusken, Jacinta Bakker, Johan H.J. Reimerink, Hana Zelena, Marion G.P. Koopmans Tags: BRIEF COMMUNICATION Source Type: research

Chikungunya Virus and the Mosquito Vector Aedes aegypti in New Caledonia (South Pacific Region)
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases - November 20, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: article Source Type: research

Viperin restricts chikungunya virus replication and pathology
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne arthralgia arbovirus that is reemergent in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. CHIKV infection has been shown to be self-limiting, but the molecular mechanisms of the innate immune response that control CHIKV replication remain undefined. Here, longitudinal transcriptional analyses of PBMCs from a cohort of CHIKV-infected patients revealed that type I IFNs controlled CHIKV infection via RSAD2 (which encodes viperin), an enigmatic multifunctional IFN-stimulated gene (ISG). Viperin was highly induced in monocytes, the major target cell of CHIKV in blood. Anti-CHIKV functions o...
Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation - November 20, 2012 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Terk-Shin Teng, Suan-Sin Foo, Diane Simamarta, Fok-Moon Lum, Teck-Hui Teo, Aleksei Lulla, Nicholas K.W. Yeo, Esther G.L. Koh, Angela Chow, Yee-Sin Leo, Andres Merits, Keh-Chuang Chin, Lisa F.P. Ng Source Type: research

Infection by chikungunya virus modulates the expression of several proteins in Aedes aegypti salivary glands
Our study provides data that increase our understanding of CHIKV/salivary gland interactions and suggest bases for the design of approaches to block virus transmission at the vector salivary gland level. Image: Pair of Aedes aegypti salivary glands infected by chikungunya virus at 5 days post-infection.The virus is shown in red and cell nuclei are blue. (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Source: Parasites and Vectors - November 15, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Stephane Tchankouo-NguetcheuEdouard BourguetPascal LenormandJean-Claude RousselleAbdelkader NamaneValerie Choumet Source Type: research

Aedes albopictus in Lebanon, a potential risk of arboviruses outbreak
Conclusion: These observations suggest that Ae. albopictus around Beirut is a potential vector of the threetested arboviruses. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
Source: BMC Infectious Diseases - November 14, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Nabil HaddadLaurence MoussonMarie VazeilleSoulaima ChamatJoelle TayehMike Abboud OstaAnna-Bella Failloux Source Type: research

Development, screening, and analysis of DNA aptamer libraries potentially useful for diagnosis and passive immunity of arboviruses
Conclusions: This article catalogues numerous DNA aptamer sequences which can bind various important pathogenic arboviruses and have, in some cases, already demonstrated diagnostic potential. These aptamer sequences are proprietary, patent-pending, and partially characterized. Therefore, they are offered to the scientific community for potential research use in diagnostic assays, biosensor applications or for possible passive immunity and prophylaxis against pathogenic viruses. (Source: BMC Research Notes)
Source: BMC Research Notes - November 13, 2012 Category: Research Authors: John BrunoMaria CarrilloAlicia RicharteTaylor PhillipsCarrie AndrewsJohn Lee Source Type: research

[A woman in her thirties with pain in her fingers and toes].
We describe the first case of Chikungunya fever diagnosed in our hospital. PMID: 23160592 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening)
Source: Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening - November 12, 2012 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Power OA, Brun JG, Blomberg B Tags: Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen Source Type: research

Distribution of Aedes albopictus (Diptera, Culicidae) in southwestern Pacific countries, with a first report from the Kingdom of Tonga
After two decades without new expansion in the Pacific region, the dengue and chikungunya mosquito vector Aedes albopictus is spreading again. It is now established in the Kingdom of Tonga. Image: Map of Tonga. (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Source: Parasites and Vectors - November 6, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Laurent GuillaumotReynold OfanoaLucien SwillenNarendra SinghHervé BossinFrancis Schaffner Source Type: research

Tiger mosquito, vector of chikungunya virus and dengue fever, is more flighty than first thought
Female tiger mosquitoes, vectors of the chikungunya virus and of dengue fever, had been thought to mate only once during their short few weeks of life. They are apparently much less faithful than imagined, however. Scientists have discovered that they may in fact mate with several males during their short lives. What is more, the same clutch of eggs can be engendered by different fathers. For their part, the males can mate with over 10 different females. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - November 5, 2012 Category: Science Source Type: news

Infectious disease emergencies in returning travelers: special reference to malaria, dengue Fever, and chikungunya.
Abstract This review article discusses important infectious illnesses, namely malaria, dengue, and chikungunya, in travelers returning from endemic areas. Malaria and dengue are two of the most common systemic illnesses reported in returning travelers. Because chikungunya is gaining importance, it is also briefly discussed. The clinical significance of these diseases is mainly due to the possibility of sudden deterioration with high mortality in clinically healthy looking patients. The key clinical features, their diagnosis, and treatment algorithms are discussed in detail to help in early diagnosis and appropriate...
Source: The Medical Clinics of North America - November 1, 2012 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Wattal C, Goel N Tags: Med Clin North Am Source Type: research

Modeling the transmission risk of emerging infectious diseases through blood transfusion.
CONCLUSION: The model can be used to quantify EID outbreak risks to blood transfusion recipients and the effect of targeted safety interventions and as such support public health decision-making. PMID: 23113823 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Transfusion)
Source: Transfusion - November 1, 2012 Category: Hematology Authors: Oei W, Janssen MP, van der Poel CL, van Steenbergen JE, Rehmet S, Kretzschmar ME Tags: Transfusion Source Type: research

An outbreak of chikungunya in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand in 2011.
PMID: 23287142 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Indian Journal of Medical Research)
Source: The Indian Journal of Medical Research - November 1, 2012 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Gurav YK, Gopalkrishna V, Shah PS, Patil DR, Mishra M, Paingankar MS, Singh A, Sathe PS, Mishra AC Tags: Indian J Med Res Source Type: research

Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Chikungunya, Dengue, and Rift Valley Fever Viruses after Febrile Illness Outbreak, Madagascar.
Abstract In October 2009, two-3 months after an outbreak of a febrile disease with joint pain on the eastern coast of Madagascar, we assessed serologic markers for chikungunya virus (CHIKV), dengue virus (DENV), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in 1,244 pregnant women at 6 locations. In 2 eastern coast towns, IgG seroprevalence against CHIKV was 45% and 23%; IgM seroprevalence was 28% and 5%. IgG seroprevalence against DENV was 17% and 11%. No anti-DENV IgM was detected. At 4 locations, 450-1,300 m high, IgG seroprevalence against CHIKV was 0%-3%, suggesting CHIKV had not spread to higher inland-altitudes. Four w...
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - October 31, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Schwarz NG, Girmann M, Randriamampionona N, Bialonski A, Maus D, Krefis AC, Njarasoa C, Rajanalison JF, Ramandrisoa HD, Randriarison ML, May J, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Rakotozandrindrainy R Tags: Emerg Infect Dis Source Type: research

Gene profiling of chikungunya virus arthritis in a mouse model reveals significant overlap with rheumatoid arthritis
ConclusionThese results suggest that RA, a chronic autoimmune arthritis, and CHIKV disease, usually a self‐limiting viral arthropathy, share multiple inflammatory processes. New drugs and biologic therapies being developed for RA may thus find application in the treatment of alphaviral arthritides. (Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)
Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism - October 27, 2012 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Helder I. Nakaya, Joy Gardner, Yee‐Suan Poo, Lee Major, Bali Pulendran, Andreas Suhrbier Tags: Rheumatoid Arthritis Source Type: research

Infectious Disease Emergencies in Returning Travelers: Special Reference to Malaria, Dengue Fever, and Chikungunya
This review article discusses important infectious illnesses, namely malaria, dengue, and chikungunya, in travelers returning from endemic areas. Malaria and dengue are two of the most common systemic illnesses reported in returning travelers. Because chikungunya is gaining importance, it is also briefly discussed. The clinical significance of these diseases is mainly due to the possibility of sudden deterioration with high mortality in clinically healthy looking patients. The key clinical features, their diagnosis, and treatment algorithms are discussed in detail to help in early diagnosis and appropriate clinical managem...
Source: Medical Clinics of North America - October 26, 2012 Category: Primary Care Authors: Chand Wattal, Neeraj Goel Source Type: research