The Chikungunya Virus Capsid Protein Contains Linear B Cell Epitopes in the N- and C-Terminal Regions that are Dependent on an Intact C-Terminus for Antibody Recognition.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthropod-borne agent that causes severe arthritic disease in humans and is considered a serious health threat in areas where competent mosquito vectors are prevalent. CHIKV has recently been responsible for several millions of cases of disease, involving over 40 countries. The recent re-emergence of CHIKV and its potential threat to human health has stimulated interest in better understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of the virus, and requirement for improved treatment, prevention and control measures.

Identification and characterization of heme-interacting proteins in the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.

The degradation of hemoglobin by the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, produces free ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) as a toxic by-product. In the presence of FP-binding drugs such as chloroquine, FP detoxification is inhibited, and the build-up of free FP is thought to be a key mechanism in parasite killing. In an effort to identify parasite proteins that might interact preferentially with FP, we have used a mass spectrometry approach.