Figure 1. The CHIKV virion

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus in the Togaviridae family. The enveloped capsid core contains a ~12 kb single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome that encodes four nonstructural and five structural proteins. CHIKV has both sylvatic (in Asia and Africa involving non-human primates and forest-localized mosquitoes) and urban (with transmission to and between humans mediated by infected Aedes aegypti and albopictus mosquitoes) lifecycles. In fact, among the alphaviruses, it is the most prevalent one transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes (1). There are four major geographically described CHIKV lineages, including the East Central South Africa (ECSA), the West Africa (WA), the Asian, and the more recent Indian Ocean lineages. CHIKV is now found in over 60 countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, with additional spread inevitable as trade globalization and climate change expand the ranges of Aedes mosquitoes.

The word “Chikungunya” is derived from a Kimakonde root verb with several meanings, with perhaps the most illustrative being “to walk bent over”. CHIKV infection causes an acute fever with myalgia and polyarthralgia that can become chronic and debilitating. Thus, despite the fact that fatalities are comparatively rare (occurring primarily in patients with comorbidities, co-infections, or certain genetic features), it nevertheless can have calamitous effects on quality of life. There are no antiviral therapeutics for this virus, so treatment is largely supportive and preventative strategies involving vector control are paramount. Due to the possibility that it could cause a pandemic, CHIKV is a priority for vaccine development.

GeneTex continues its commitment to producing quality reagents for infectious disease research with an expanding portfolio of reagents for arbovirus research (including antibodies against Zika virus, Dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, among many others). For CHIKV research, GeneTex is proud to introduce new recombinant antibody products (e.g., Chikungunya virus E1 antibody [HL2069] (GTX637973) and Chikungunya virus nsP2 antibody [HL1488] (GTX636962)) to expand its already near-comprehensive line of CHIKV protein antibodies. Please see the highlighted product images and a complete CHIKV antibody listing below.

 

Figure 2. CHIKV genomic organization

Highlighted Products

Chikungunya virus E1 antibody [HL2069] (GTX637973)	Chikungunya virus Capsid antibody (GTX135183)	Chikungunya virus nsP1 antibody (GTX135191)
Chikungunya virus nsP2 antibody [HL1488] (GTX636962)	Chikungunya virus nsP3 antibody (GTX135189)	Chikungunya virus nsP4 antibody (GTX135190)

 

Cat. No. Product Name Clonality Applications   GTX135191 Chikungunya virus nsP1 antibody Rb pAb WB, ICC/IF   GTX636897 Chikungunya virus nsP2 antibody [HL1431] Rec Rb mAb WB, ICC/IF GTX636898 Chikungunya virus nsP2 antibody [HL1432] Rec Rb mAb WB, ICC/IF GTX636962 Chikungunya virus nsP2 antibody [HL1488] Rec Rb mAb WB, ICC/IF, IHC-P (cell pellet) GTX135188 Chikungunya virus nsP2 antibody Rb pAb WB, ICC/IF, IHC-P (cell pellet)   GTX135189 Chikungunya virus nsP3 antibody Rb pAb WB, ICC/IF, IHC-P (cell pellet)   GTX135190 Chikungunya virus nsP4 antibody Rb pAb WB, ICC/IF   GTX135183 Chikungunya virus Capsid antibody Rb pAb WB, ICC/IF   GTX637973 Chikungunya virus E1 antibody [HL2069] Rec Rb mAb WB GTX135187 Chikungunya virus E1 antibody Rb pAb WB, ICC/IF GTX135184 Chikungunya virus E3 antibody Rb pAb WB

 

Reference:

1. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2023 Apr 6;9(1):17.doi: 10.1038/s41572-023-00429-2.