Chikungunya virus: from global emergence to immunopathology and therapeutic frontiers
- 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University
- 2Department of Psychiatry, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a re-emerging mosquito-borne alphavirus, has transitioned from an endemic pathogen to a global public health threat. In May 2026, the World Health Organization’s second rapid risk assessment classified the global public health risk of CHIKV transmission as moderate. Although two vaccines (IXCHIQ ® and VIMKUNYA ® ) have been authorized in selected countries, no antiviral therapy has been approved, and supportive care remains the mainstay of clinical management. We synthesize current knowledge of CHIKV epidemiology, replication, host immune signaling, and immune evasion, together with the developmental landscape of vaccines and antivirals. Through a critical appraisal of available evidence, we propose a hierarchical evidence-weighting framework that distinguishes in vivo mechanistic findings, cell-line observations, and human validation, and we highlight the stage-dependent functions of cytokines. Finally, we outline unresolved questions in chronicity, antiviral development, next-generation vaccine design and optimization, and cross-regional public health coordination, with particular emphasis on bridging the evidence gap between animal models and human infection.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026chikungunya,
title = {{Chikungunya virus: from global emergence to immunopathology and therapeutic frontiers}},
author = {Dingqin Li and Qingyuan Wang and Keyi Pan and Shujun Zhang},
journal = {Frontiers in Immunology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.1954201},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1954201/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Chikungunya virus: from global emergence to immunopathology and therapeutic frontiers
AU - Dingqin Li
AU - Qingyuan Wang
AU - Keyi Pan
AU - Shujun Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Frontiers in Immunology
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1954201
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1954201/full
AB - Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a re-emerging mosquito-borne alphavirus, has transitioned from an endemic pathogen to a global public health threat. In May 2026, the World Health Organization’s second rapid risk assessment classified the global public health risk of CHIKV transmission as moderate. Although two vaccines (IXCHIQ ® and VIMKUNYA ® ) have been authorized in selected countries, no antiviral therapy has been approved, and supportive care remains the mainstay of clinical management. We synthesize current knowledge of CHIKV epidemiology, replication, host immune signaling, and immune evasion, together with the developmental landscape of vaccines and antivirals. Through a critical appraisal of available evidence, we propose a hierarchical evidence-weighting framework that distinguishes in vivo mechanistic findings, cell-line observations, and human validation, and we highlight the stage-dependent functions of cytokines. Finally, we outline unresolved questions in chronicity, antiviral development, next-generation vaccine design and optimization, and cross-regional public health coordination, with particular emphasis on bridging the evidence gap between animal models and human infection.
SN - 1664-3224
ER -