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The largest ever recorded epidemic of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) broke out in 2004 and affected four continents. Acute symptomatic infections are typically associated with the onset of fever and often debilitating polyarthralgia/polyarthritis. In this study, a systems biology approach was adopted to analyze the blood transcriptomes of adults acutely infected with the CHIKV. Gene signatures that were associated with viral RNA levels and the onset of symptoms were identified. Among these genes, the putative role of the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor (eIF) family genes and apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC3A) in the CHIKV replication process were displayed. We further compared these signatures with signatures induced by the Dengue virus infection and rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, we demonstrated that the CHIKV in vitro infection of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages induced IL-1 beta production in a mechanism that is significantly dependent on the inflammasome NLRP3 activation. The observations provided valuable insights into virus-host interactions during the acute phase and can be instrumental in the investigation of new and effective therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the economic value of vaccines in developing countries, with a focus on Brazil. Vaccines are crucial for controlling infectious diseases, particularly in areas with poor sanitation. Brazil has implemented a national immunization program that provides free vaccines to all citizens. The country purchases vaccines from domestic public vaccine production institutes at low prices, with the Butantan Institute in São Paulo being the largest producer. Unlike other developing countries, Brazil relies on public sector institutions for vaccine production rather than private for-profit companies. The Butantan Institute has employed various methods to obtain new vaccine technology, including technology transfer from developed countries, independent development, and partnerships with other manufacturers in less developed countries. The national immunization program in Brazil has been highly successful, and the Butantan Institute continues to work on developing new vaccines to further improve public health. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the economic value of vaccine for developed countries particularly in Brazil. It notes the success of the national immunization program launched by the Ministry of Health (MH) in 1985 that has allowed the MH to purchase vaccines from domestic public vaccine production institutes at prices comparable to those obtained by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and UNICEF. It presents several methods on how to obtain new vaccine technology in Brazil as employed by Butantan Institute including technology transfer from for-profit vaccine producers, independent development and partnerships with for-profit vaccine producer.