Research Projects

Chikungunya is a rheumatic illness caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), causing high fever, musculoskeletal pain, and joint inflammation. Despite extensive research, there is no specific treatment or vaccine against CHIKV. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been studied for their role in transcription, post-transcription, and epigenetic networks. Recent studies have shown that lncRNAs play a crucial role in host antiviral responses, and viruses have developed strategies to counter these responses. However, the role of lncRNAs in chikungunya virus is yet to be explored. Preliminary data shows that lncRNAs MALAT1, EGOT, and RHOXF1 are upregulated during CHIKV infection, which inhibit antiviral innate immune responses. The proposal aims to decipher the role of lncRNAs in CHIKV infection and understand the mechanism by which CHIKV manipulates lncRNAs for propagation. These lncRNAs could be potential targets for antiviral strategies and provide novel platforms for better prognosis.