Abstract
BackgroundOutbreaks of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection has been documented in over 40 countries, resulting in clinical symptoms characterized by fever and joint pain. Diagnosing CHIKV in a clinical lab setting is often omitted because of the high lab safety requirement. An infection system that mimics CHIKV infection will permit clinical evaluation of the production of neutralizing antibody for both disease diagnostics and treatment.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe generated a CHIKV construct expressing CHIKV structural proteins. This construct permits the production of CHIKV pseudo-viral particles with a luciferase reporter. The pseudo-virus was able to infect a wide range of cell lines. The pseudovirus could be neutralized by the addition of neutralizing antibodies from patients.ConclusionsTaken together, we have developed a powerful system that can be handled at biosafety level 2 laboratories for evaluation of existence of CHIKV neutralizing antibodies.
Highlights
The Chikungunya virus commonly referred to as CHIKV is a word derived from the Kimakonde language meaning ‘walking bent over’ [1]
Taken together, we have developed a powerful system that can be handled at biosafety level 2 laboratories for evaluation of existence of CHIKV neutralizing antibodies
We reported the successful development of a pseudo-viral system which resembles CHIKV infection without expressing its non-structural proteins
Summary
The Chikungunya virus commonly referred to as CHIKV is a word derived from the Kimakonde language meaning ‘walking bent over’ [1]. Outbreaks of CHIKV have been documented as early as 1779 and frequent outbreaks have been reported through 1960–2003 in areas of South and Southeast Asia. The most notable outbreak was seen in French Reunion Island through 2005 and 2006 where about onethird of the entire country’s population was infected by CHIKV. CHIKV has currently been documented in over 40 countries and is listed as a US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) as a category C priority pathogen [1]. An outbreak of CHIKV infection was reported in Guangdong province, China in 2010 [2]. Outbreaks of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection has been documented in over 40 countries, resulting in clinical symptoms characterized by fever and joint pain. An infection system that mimics CHIKV infection will permit clinical evaluation of the production of neutralizing antibody for both disease diagnostics and treatment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
