Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus causing acute febrile illness with severe joint pain, often leading to chronic arthralgia. This study investigated the adaptive immune responses during the early stages of symptomatic acute CHIKV infection, focusing on the transcription factors and cytokines linked to Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells. Thirty-six individuals were enrolled: nine healthy controls and 27 CHIKV-positive patients confirmed by qRT-PCR. Blood samples were analyzed for the mRNA expression of transcription factors (Tbet, GATA3, FoxP3, STAT3, RORγt) and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17, IL-22, TGF-β, IL-10). The results showed the significant upregulation of Tbet, GATA3, FoxP3, STAT3, and RORγt in CHIKV-positive patients, with RORγt displaying the highest increase. Correspondingly, cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17, and IL-22 were upregulated, while TGF-β was downregulated. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the distinct immune profiles between CHIKV-positive and healthy individuals. A correlation analysis indicated that higher Tbet expression correlated with a lower viral load, whereas FoxP3 and TGF-β were associated with higher viral loads. Our study sheds light on the intricate immune responses during acute CHIKV infection, characterized by a mixed Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg response profile. These results emphasize the complex interplay between different adaptive immune responses and how they may contribute to the pathogenesis of Chikungunya fever.

Wound healing is important for skin after deep injuries or burns, which can lead to hospitalization, long-term morbidity, and mortality. In this field, tissue-engineered skin substitutes have therapy potential to assist in the treatment of acute and chronic skin wounds, where many requirements are still unmet. Hence, in this study, a novel type of biocompatible ternary polymer hybrid hydrogel scaffold was designed and produced through an entirely eco-friendly aqueous process composed of carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol and chemically cross-linked by citric acid, forming three-dimensional (3D) matrices, which were biofunctionalized with L-arginine (L-Arg) to enhance cellular adhesion. They were applied as bilayer skin biomimetic substitutes based on human-derived cell cultures of fibroblasts and keratinocytes were seeded and grown into their 3D porous structures, producing cell-based bio-responsive hybrid hydrogel scaffolds to assist the wound healing process. The results demonstrated that hydrophilic hybrid cross-linked networks were formed via esterification reactions with the 3D porous microarchitecture promoted by foam templating and freeze-drying. These hybrids presented chemical stability, physicochemical properties, high moisture adsorption capacity, surface properties, and a highly interconnected 3D porous structure well suited for use as a skin substitute in wound healing. Additionally, the surface biofunctionalization of these 3D hydrogel scaffolds with L-arginine through amide bonds had significantly enhanced cellular attachment and proliferation of fibroblast and keratinocyte cultures. Hence, the in vivo results using Hairless mouse models (an immunocompromised strain) confirmed that these responsive bio-hybrid hydrogel scaffolds possess hemocompatibility, bioadhesion, biocompatibility, adhesiveness, biodegradability, and non-inflammatory behavior and are capable of assisting the skin wound healing process.

Malaria is a major public healthcare concern worldwide, representing a leading cause of death in specific regions. The gold standard for diagnosis is microscopic analysis, but this requires a laboratory setting, trained staff, and infrastructure and is therefore typically slow and dependent on the experience of the technician. This study introduces, for the first time, a biomimetic sensing platform for the direct detection of the disease. The heart of the sensor consists of a synthetic receptor created by surface imprinting Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in a polymeric matrix. This receptor layer is coupled to a low-cost and fast thermal transducer platform, allowing for real time detection of the infection. The artificial receptor is a composite of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and graphene oxide that, in combination with the thermal readout, exhibited a limit of detection below 0.5% parasitemia in erythrocyte samples. This value is relevant for the diagnosis of infection in patients with low parasitemia levels. This study proves that biomimetic sensors could be further explored for the development of point-of-care technologies for the management of the disease.

Although different studies have investigated the pathophysiological aspects of ascariasis using experimental models, the long-term effects following the peak of larval migration in the lungs remain poorly understood, especially in different doses of infection, such as those that mimic better the natural infection scenario. In this study, we evaluated the impact of different infection doses (250, 1250, and 2500 eggs) and amount of exposure (single vs reinfection) on the host's immune response over an extended period. Our findings demonstrate that even the lowest dose (250 eggs) can induce persistent, though less severe, pathological damages compared to higher doses. These include anemia resulting from alveolar hemorrhage and the development of chronic pulmonary disease. Notably, while lower doses elicit a milder immune response, clinical manifestations tend to appear later, indicating a delayed pathological impact. Importantly, inflammatory infiltrates and altered cytokine levels (including Th1/Th2/Th17) were still observed in the lungs more than 100 days postinfection, even after larval clearance. The humoral immune response against Ascaris suum remained active for at least 100 days postinfection, with the potential for longer persistence. Notably, even with lower doses, only two exposures were sufficient to trigger an immune pattern similar to that observed at higher doses. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into the chronic inflammatory effects of Ascaris infection, including its impact on distant organs and its potential contribution to the development of noncommunicable diseases and comorbidities. A better understanding of these mechanisms is essential for developing improved strategies to control ascariasis in endemic areas.

Alphavirus chikungunya (CHIKV) is an arthropod-borne alphavirus of the Togaviridae family, transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. CHIKV infection often results in debilitating manifestations that compromise quality of life and generate significant socioeconomic impacts. Recurrent epidemics in tropical and subtropical regions underscore the urgent need to better understand the host immune responses and their contribution to disease outcome. CHIKV establishes infection by overcoming the host’s initial immunological barriers. Innate immune cells, including fibroblasts, dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells, are among the first to respond to infection, ensuring a rapid antiviral defense and supporting the development of adaptive immune responses. However, excessive release of inflammatory mediators and prolonged infiltration of innate cells into joint tissues contribute to disease chronicity and the persistence of arthralgia. In this review, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence on innate cells that serve as targets for CHIKV infection, highlighting mechanisms that promote effective antiviral defense as well as those responsible for pathological inflammation and chronic disease and identifying key gaps that remain to be addressed.