Antibodies against chikungunya virus structural proteins reveal the presence of CHIKV virions in migrasomes

Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes, caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which has led to millions of infections globally. Antibodies against CHIKV serve as essential tools for research on this virus. In this study, we designed peptides corresponding to the E1, E2, E3, and capsid proteins of CHIKV to immunize New Zealand white rabbits, leading to the development of polyclonal antibodies. We characterized these antibodies through Western blot and immunofluorescence assays. Importantly, our findings using these antibodies revealed the localization of CHIKV structural proteins within migrasomes, thereby uncovering the presence of CHIKV virions in migrasomes, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antibodies generated in this study will provide a valuable resource for future investigations into CHIKV.