SciDev.Net, Dec. 14, 2007 A simple protein change in the chikungunya virus enables it to adapt to new mosquito hosts and spread to more regions, new research shows. Studies at the US-based University of Texas Medical Branch have found that a single amino acid change in the protein of the virus's outer shell helps it adapt to a new mosquito host, Aedes albopictus. The findings were published last week (7 December) in PLoS Pathogens. Versions of this article, which continues to be published, can also be found at: http://www.news-medical.net/?id=33282