CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS LYSATE

Chikungunya virus lysate has been manufactured to provide a consistent source of Chikungunya virus antigens. This material has been produced by culturing Chikungunya virus in the Vero cell line. The Chikungunya virus lysate is supplied purified and heat inactivated. This product is suitable for use in a broad range of applications including immunoassay research and development.

PRODUCT DETAILS – CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS LYSATE

• Recombinant Chikungunya virus lysate.
• Following culture, the virus is purified by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation.
• Purified virions lysed in 0.6M KCl containing 0.5% Triton X-100, and then subjected to heat inactivation.
• This product is suitable for use in a broad range of applications including immunoassay research and development.

BACKGROUND

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) belongs to the genus Alphavirus, a member of the Togaviridae family of viruses. Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne disease that was first identified in Tanzania in 1953. Since 2004 there have been extensive outbreaks in Africa and Asia. In 2013 the first cases were identified in the Caribbean, and by September 2014 more than 650,000 cases had been reported in the Americas. Chikungunya fever is a febrile illness that usually starts 2–4 days after chikungunya virus infection. Patients present with clinical symptoms that include high fever, rash, headache, vomiting, myalgia, and severe joint pain. Most cases resolve after a few days but joint pain may persist for several months in some patients (CDC).

CHIKV is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These mosquitos also transmit Dengue Virus, and the clinical symptoms of infection are also similar. Differential diagnosis is therefore an important consideration in areas where other flaviviruses such as Dengue co-circulate.

Currently, there are no effective licensed vaccines for the prevention of Chikungunya fever or antiviral drugs available for the treatment of the disease.

At The Native Antigen Company, we offer an extensive range of Chikungunya antigens and antibodies to support IVD assay development and vaccine R&D. Our range includes mammalian expressed recombinant virus-like particles, soluble envelope proteins, cell receptor proteins and neutralising monoclonal antibodies. We also offer polyclonal antibodies raised against our Chikungunya virus-like particles, which bind capsid, E1 and E2 proteins.

REFERENCES

• Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: Chikungunya virus.