New Delhi: Mosquito Saliva Chikungunya Immunity : Researchers in Singapore have discovered that mosquito saliva may directly affect chikungunya immunity in the human body. Their study, published in Nature Communications, found that a protein in mosquito saliva called sialokinin influences how the immune system responds to infection, potentially shaping disease severity.
The team from ASTAR Infectious Diseases Labs (ASTAR IDL) found that sialokinin binds to immune cell receptors and temporarily lowers immune activity. This reduces early inflammation, but also allows the virus to spread more easily, which may lead to more severe symptoms later.
“This study shows that mosquito saliva proteins are not just carriers of viruses but actively influence the body’s immunity,” said Dr. Siew-Wai Fong, senior scientist at A*STAR IDL. Targeting sialokinin could be a new way to treat chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases.
Chikungunya, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, causes painful joint swelling that can last for months. The study also found that patients with worse symptoms had higher levels of antibodies against sialokinin, showing that the body’s reaction to this protein may affect disease severity.
The research highlights the importance of understanding how mosquitoes and humans interact in the spread of infections. As climate change increases mosquito-borne diseases, blocking proteins like sialokinin may help prevent and treat these infections.
This study provides new hope for safer and better ways to fight chikungunya and similar diseases worldwide.
–IANS
