Abstract

Viral infections affecting the central nervous system (CNS) pose a significant threat to human health, often leading to severe neurological complications. One of the key mechanisms by which these viruses cause damage is through neuroinvasion, the process by which viruses enter and spread within the CNS. Once inside the CNS, viral replication and subsequent immune responses can trigger inflammation, further contributing to the pathology of the infection. In this article, we explore the intricate relationship between neuroinvasion, inflammation, and viral CNS infections, highlighting the mechanisms involved and the consequences for affected individuals.

The complex balance of pro-inflammatory and antiviral immune responses to viral neuroinvasion and pathology is also discussed, especially in the context of the hypothesised Trojan horse mechanism of neuroinvasion. A greater understanding of the routes and mechanisms of arboviral neuroinvasion, and how they differ between viruses, will aid in predictive assessments of the neuroinvasive potential of new and emerging arboviruses, and may provide opportunity for attenuation, development of novel intervention strategies and rational vaccine design for highly neurovirulent arboviruses.