RARE DISEASE
Chikungunya
Chikungunya
Chikungunya
Drug discovery
0
drugs
With orphan designations
Overview
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral illness caused by the Alphavirus CHIKV, transmitted by Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes [1][5][13]. It presents with abrupt fever, debilitating polyarthralgia, myalgia, rash, and headache [1][7][14]. Chronic joint pain persists in 30-50% of cases for months to years [7][15]. Diagnosis relies on RT-PCR (acute phase) or IgM serology (after 5-7 days) [5][13]. Treatment is supportive with acetaminophen, hydration, and rest [1][5][19].
Population
Endemic in 104+ countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas (excluding Canada, Chile, Uruguay, and continental US), and parts of Europe [3][6][10]
2023 outbreaks occurred in Paraguay (138,730 cases), Argentina, and Uruguay (first local transmissions) [2][6]
High-risk groups: Neonates, adults >65 years, and those with hypertension/diabetes [7][11][13]
Burden
Global annual incidence: ~33.7M infections (16.9M symptomatic), with 3.4M chronic cases and 22,600 deaths [3][7]
43.8% of patients report persistent symptoms at 3 months; 17% require hospitalization [7][11][16]
2023 Americas outbreak: >214,000 cases by April, straining healthcare systems in Paraguay/Bolivia [2][6]
Therapies
First-line: Acetaminophen for fever/pain (avoid NSAIDs until dengue excluded) [1][5][19]
Chronic management: NSAIDs, low-dose corticosteroids, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [4][15][18]
IXCHIQ vaccine (live-attenuated) approved for high-risk travelers/lab workers in 2023; not yet deployed in endemic regions [9][13]
Categories: rare infectious diseases, rare neurological diseases
Research Papers
1,947 drug discovery papers about Chikungunya, with 2 first-in-class emerging drug candidates forecasted to outperform the average preclinical success rate. Recent publications:
1,947 drug discovery papers about Chikungunya, with 2 first-in-class emerging drug candidates forecasted to outperform the average preclinical success rate. Recent publications:
2026-07-11 | Ecological and engineered modulation of the mosquito microbiome: mechanisms, vector competence, and translational prospects for disease control.
Malaria, dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and West Nile fever are mosquito-borne diseases that collectively impose an enormous global health burden, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries where vector-control tools remain limited or compromised by insecticide resistance. Over the past two decades, the characterization of mosquito-associated microbiomes has transformed our understanding of vector biology, revealing complex, ecologically contingent assemblages of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protists that profoundly influence mosquito physiology, immunity, and pathogen transmission competence. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the composition and determinants of the mosquito microbiome across major vector genera-Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex-and critically evaluates evidence for microbiome roles in larval development, adult fitness, immune homeostasis, and pathogen-vector interactions. We examine how resident microbiota can inhibit or, in some contexts, facilitate pathogen establishment, dissemination, and transmission, and we discuss the mechanistic pathways underlying these effects, including immune priming, niche competition, antimicrobial metabolite production, and modulation of midgut barrier integrity. We then review major strategies for deliberate microbiome modulation, including Wolbachia-based pathogen blocking and population suppression, paratransgenesis, symbiont supplementation, microbiota engineering, and habitat-level manipulation, and evaluate their biological rationale, current evidence base, field feasibility, and limitations. Attention is given to the gap between laboratory proof-of-concept and operational deployment, as well as to biosafety, regulatory, ecological, and ethical challenges that must be resolved before microbiome-based interventions can be integrated into public health programs. We conclude by identifying priority research questions and the technological advances most likely to accelerate progress from descriptive microbiome science to predictive, actionable vector control.
2026-07-10 | Chikungunya virus virus-like particle vaccine (VIMKUNYA) elicits cross-neutralization across CHIKV lineages and against other alphaviruses after just one dose.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus that has spread widely and infected millions of people. CHIKV can cause both acute and chronic polyarthralgia that can be debilitating. The CHIKV virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine, VIMKUNYA™, is approved for use in the US, EU/EEA, UK, and Switzerland. The aim of this study was two-fold: 1) determine if a single dose of CHIKV VLP vaccine generates cross-neutralizing antibodies against diverse CHIKV strains representing major viral lineages, as well as other arthritogenic alphaviruses, and 2) determine if previous alphavirus vaccination alters the ability to generate cross-neutralizing antibodies after CHIKV VLP vaccination. In this analysis, sera from participants enrolled in a phase 2 study were assessed for neutralizing activity against multiple CHIKV strains and related alphaviruses. A single vaccination with CHIKV VLP vaccine induced cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple lineages of CHIKV and generated measurable cross-neutralizing activity against several related arthritogenic alphaviruses. Importantly, individuals with prior history of alphavirus vaccination exhibited immune responses comparable to alphavirus-naïve participants, indicating that earlier exposure did not hinder the ability to mount a strong CHIKV-specific or cross-reactive antibody response. These results highlight the broad immunogenic potential of CHIKV VLP vaccine and support its suitability across diverse populations, including individuals with prior alphavirus exposure, as previous vaccination did not diminish the ability to generate robust CHIKV-specific or cross-neutralizing antibody responses against CHIKV and other arthritogenic alphaviruses.
2026-07-10 | A single-dose chimeric Newcastle disease virus (NDV)/chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an effective CHIKV vaccine candidate.
With the broad spread of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), there is an increasing demand for more effective and protective vaccines. In this study, we first developed a Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vector vaccine candidate expressing the complete envelope (E3-E1) protein of CHIKV. The immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the presence of E2 protein in the rNDV-CHIKV virion, and the virological results showed that the expression of E1 and E2 protein was stable after 10 serial passages in embryonated chicken eggs. Moreover, we assessed its safety and immunogenicity following intramuscular (i.m.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) administration in C57BL/6 mice. The immunogenicity analyses demonstrated that a single-dose immunization elicits high titers of CHIKV E2-specific IgG antibodies, potent neutralizing activity, and T-cell immune responses. Importantly, both routes of immunization conferred complete protection against wild-type CHIKV challenge in C57BL/6 mice. These findings present a promising novel vector-based vaccine candidate with significant potential for effective CHIKV prevention.IMPORTANCEChikungunya virus (CHIKV) imposes a substantial global health burden, characterized by arthralgia that can persist for years, neurological complications, and potentially fatal outcomes in vulnerable populations. Currently, two vaccines against CHIKV have been approved: a live-attenuated vaccine (Ixchiq) and a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine (Vimkunya). However, Ixchiq has been withdrawn from clinical use due to significant side effects, highlighting the urgent need for the development of novel vaccine strategies. Our research has successfully developed a novel vaccine candidate that utilizes Newcastle disease virus as a vector to express CHIKV antigens. This innovative strategy offers multiple advantages: cost-effectiveness, genetic stability of the inserted gene, and robust immunogenicity with effective immune protection. This approach offers a contribution in addressing the emerging threat posed by CHIKV.
2026-07-11 | Ecological and engineered modulation of the mosquito microbiome: mechanisms, vector competence, and translational prospects for disease control.
Malaria, dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and West Nile fever are mosquito-borne diseases that collectively impose an enormous global health burden, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries where vector-control tools remain limited or compromised by insecticide resistance. Over the past two decades, the characterization of mosquito-associated microbiomes has transformed our understanding of vector biology, revealing complex, ecologically contingent assemblages of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protists that profoundly influence mosquito physiology, immunity, and pathogen transmission competence. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the composition and determinants of the mosquito microbiome across major vector genera-Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex-and critically evaluates evidence for microbiome roles in larval development, adult fitness, immune homeostasis, and pathogen-vector interactions. We examine how resident microbiota can inhibit or, in some contexts, facilitate pathogen establishment, dissemination, and transmission, and we discuss the mechanistic pathways underlying these effects, including immune priming, niche competition, antimicrobial metabolite production, and modulation of midgut barrier integrity. We then review major strategies for deliberate microbiome modulation, including Wolbachia-based pathogen blocking and population suppression, paratransgenesis, symbiont supplementation, microbiota engineering, and habitat-level manipulation, and evaluate their biological rationale, current evidence base, field feasibility, and limitations. Attention is given to the gap between laboratory proof-of-concept and operational deployment, as well as to biosafety, regulatory, ecological, and ethical challenges that must be resolved before microbiome-based interventions can be integrated into public health programs. We conclude by identifying priority research questions and the technological advances most likely to accelerate progress from descriptive microbiome science to predictive, actionable vector control.
2026-07-10 | Chikungunya virus virus-like particle vaccine (VIMKUNYA) elicits cross-neutralization across CHIKV lineages and against other alphaviruses after just one dose.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus that has spread widely and infected millions of people. CHIKV can cause both acute and chronic polyarthralgia that can be debilitating. The CHIKV virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine, VIMKUNYA™, is approved for use in the US, EU/EEA, UK, and Switzerland. The aim of this study was two-fold: 1) determine if a single dose of CHIKV VLP vaccine generates cross-neutralizing antibodies against diverse CHIKV strains representing major viral lineages, as well as other arthritogenic alphaviruses, and 2) determine if previous alphavirus vaccination alters the ability to generate cross-neutralizing antibodies after CHIKV VLP vaccination. In this analysis, sera from participants enrolled in a phase 2 study were assessed for neutralizing activity against multiple CHIKV strains and related alphaviruses. A single vaccination with CHIKV VLP vaccine induced cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple lineages of CHIKV and generated measurable cross-neutralizing activity against several related arthritogenic alphaviruses. Importantly, individuals with prior history of alphavirus vaccination exhibited immune responses comparable to alphavirus-naïve participants, indicating that earlier exposure did not hinder the ability to mount a strong CHIKV-specific or cross-reactive antibody response. These results highlight the broad immunogenic potential of CHIKV VLP vaccine and support its suitability across diverse populations, including individuals with prior alphavirus exposure, as previous vaccination did not diminish the ability to generate robust CHIKV-specific or cross-neutralizing antibody responses against CHIKV and other arthritogenic alphaviruses.
2026-07-10 | A single-dose chimeric Newcastle disease virus (NDV)/chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an effective CHIKV vaccine candidate.
With the broad spread of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), there is an increasing demand for more effective and protective vaccines. In this study, we first developed a Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vector vaccine candidate expressing the complete envelope (E3-E1) protein of CHIKV. The immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the presence of E2 protein in the rNDV-CHIKV virion, and the virological results showed that the expression of E1 and E2 protein was stable after 10 serial passages in embryonated chicken eggs. Moreover, we assessed its safety and immunogenicity following intramuscular (i.m.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) administration in C57BL/6 mice. The immunogenicity analyses demonstrated that a single-dose immunization elicits high titers of CHIKV E2-specific IgG antibodies, potent neutralizing activity, and T-cell immune responses. Importantly, both routes of immunization conferred complete protection against wild-type CHIKV challenge in C57BL/6 mice. These findings present a promising novel vector-based vaccine candidate with significant potential for effective CHIKV prevention.IMPORTANCEChikungunya virus (CHIKV) imposes a substantial global health burden, characterized by arthralgia that can persist for years, neurological complications, and potentially fatal outcomes in vulnerable populations. Currently, two vaccines against CHIKV have been approved: a live-attenuated vaccine (Ixchiq) and a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine (Vimkunya). However, Ixchiq has been withdrawn from clinical use due to significant side effects, highlighting the urgent need for the development of novel vaccine strategies. Our research has successfully developed a novel vaccine candidate that utilizes Newcastle disease virus as a vector to express CHIKV antigens. This innovative strategy offers multiple advantages: cost-effectiveness, genetic stability of the inserted gene, and robust immunogenicity with effective immune protection. This approach offers a contribution in addressing the emerging threat posed by CHIKV.
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