Chikungunya in the Americas: Recommendations and Conclusions.

Discovered in 1953, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) circulated in Africa and Southeast Asia, with periodic outbreaks, for many years. Highly efficient transmission following a genetic mutation of the virus in 2005 caused its global spread. Associated with significant morbidity, CHIKV creates a large public health burden, and despite various efforts, there are currently no licensed vaccines nor specific treatments. To garner a better understanding of the virus, identify gaps in knowledge, and guide the development of more-effective interventions, the World Health Organization and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases assembled global experts for discussion and review. Herein described are the outcomes.

NIAID workshop on Flavivirus immunity.

On September 16, 2009, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, convened a workshop to discuss current knowledge of T- and B-cell immune epitopes for members of the Flavivirus genus (family Flaviviridae), and how this information could be used to increase our basic understanding of host-pathogen interactions and/or advance the development of new or improved vaccines and diagnostics for these pathogens. B-cell and T-cell responses to flaviviruses are critical components of protective immunity against these pathogens. However, they have also been linked to disease pathogenesis. A detailed understanding of the biological significance of immune epitope information may provide clues regarding the mechanisms governing the induction of protective versus pathogenic adaptive immune responses.