Chikungunya virus is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes. The most common symptoms infection with the virus are fever and joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. First identified in Africa in 1952, the virus has spread geographically since a 2005 outbreak in the Indian Ocean, reaching the Americas in 2013. Since 2014 local transmission has been confirmed in Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
Our laboratories effect preclinical testing on the immunogenicity and efficacy of product from Hawaii Biotech, our collaborators on this project. Hawaii Biotech is using a recombinant subunit protein vaccine platform that has been used for vaccines against similar mosquito-borne viruses including dengue and West Nile.
Selected Publications
The role of cellular immune responses on chikungunya virus infection-induced arthritis
