Reemerging Infectious Diseases and Neuroimmunologic Complications

Area of Science:

• Neuroinfectious diseases
• Emerging infectious diseases
• Global health

Background:

• Familiar and novel infections impacting the nervous system present ongoing challenges.
• Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are spreading globally, posing increasing health risks.
• Despite advances, effective treatments for many viral infections and their neurological sequelae remain limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape of central nervous system (CNS) infections.
• To highlight challenges in treating established and emerging viral infections and their neurological consequences.
• To emphasize the need for novel therapeutic strategies against neuroinfectious diseases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in neuroinfectious diseases.
• Analysis of treatment challenges for viral infections like HIV, arboviruses, and SARS-CoV-2.
• Discussion of the impact of global travel and environmental changes on disease transmission.

Main Results:

• Effective antiviral treatments and vaccines are lacking for many emerging arboviral infections.
• Neurologic dysfunction persists in HIV patients despite effective antiretroviral therapy.
• Post-infectious complications, such as long COVID, represent significant global health and economic burdens.

Conclusions:

• There is an urgent need for new antiviral therapies that can penetrate the CNS.
• Development of vaccines and host-targeted therapies is essential for managing neuroinfectious diseases.
• Addressing both acute infections and long-term post-infectious complications is critical for global health security.