Analysis of Cell Populations from Arbovirus-Infected Tissues by Flow Cytometry

Arboviruses still represent a major challenge to public health in many parts of the world. Despite shared epidemiological characteristics, each arboviral disorder displays distinct cellular tropism and activation patterns, progressing to immunopathological outcomes that remain not fully elucidated. A deeper understanding of these processes requires methodologies capable of characterizing the often-complex cellular responses. In this context, flow cytometry emerges as a valuable tool, enabling the characterization of heterogeneous cell populations, the assessment of activation and proliferation markers, the quantification of inflammatory mediators, and the detection of cell death pathways. By integrating these parameters, flow cytometry can enhance our understanding of arbovirus pathogenesis, clarify their cellular tropism, and understand immune responses to infection. This methodological article outlines the main steps for applying the technique to different target tissues infected by chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses, emphasizing the most effective strategies.