HIV-1 Nef protein is an approximately 27-kDa myristoylated protein that is a virulence factor essential for efficient viral replication and infection in CD4+ T cells. The functions of CD4+ T cells are directly impeded after HIV infection. HIV-1 Nef plays a crucial role in manipulating host cellular machinery and in HIV pathogenesis by reducing the ability of infected lymphocytes to form immunological synapses by promoting virological synapses with APCs, and by affecting T-cell stimulation. This article reviews the current status of the efficient Nef-mediated spread of virus in the unreceptive environment of the immune system by altering CD4+ T-lymphocyte signaling, intracellular trafficking, cell migration and apoptotic pathways.

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Currently various countries in Africa, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, are facing disaster due to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which is primarily caused by Ebola virus. 2014 outbreak of Ebola associated viral haemorrhagic fever has 55-60% fatality rate. The incubation period of Ebola is below 21 days; once the appearance of symptoms starts the person will be infective. As there is no specific vaccine, antiviral or drugs for treating Ebola resulting in large number of deaths. Most of the recent outbreaks occurred in remote areas of West Africa. Poverty, lack of awareness, access to health centres, human habitats taking its toll in spreading the disease in large scale. Few nucleotide analogues, protease inhibitors, receptor binding, monoclonal antibodies and anticoagulant therapies are exhibiting promising role in inhibiting the Ebola virus in various (in vitro and in vivo) models.

Currently various countries in South-East Asia, including India, are facing disaster due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), which is primarily caused by Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV). A dirty environment and a lack of awareness about the risks associated with mosquito bites may be one of the reasons of the outbreak. Japanese encephalitis is a lethal neuroviral infection for which there is no treatment and it largely affects children less than 14 years. Most of the cases either remain asymptomatic or shortlived mild symptoms with fever. In less than one case in every 300-500, the virus causes serious symptoms, such as seizures, confusion and paralysis. Up to one in every three people who develop serious symptoms die and those who do survive may suffer permanent neurological damage. However, the disease can be prevented by JE-specific vaccination. The current article tries to create awareness and is a compilation of advances made so far for vaccines for Japanese encephalitis.