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Baumann J, Knüpfer M, Ouedraogo J, Traoré BY, Heitzer A, Kané B, Maiga B, Sylla M, Kouriba B, Wölfel R. Lassa and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses, Mali. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:999-1002. [PMID: 31002054 PMCID: PMC6478234 DOI: 10.3201/eid2505.181047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report detection of Lassa virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infections in the area of Bamako, the capital of Mali. Our investigation found 2 cases of infection with each of these viruses. These results show the potential for both of these viruses to be endemic to Mali.
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102
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Ilori EA, Furuse Y, Ipadeola OB, Dan-Nwafor CC, Abubakar A, Womi-Eteng OE, Ogbaini-Emovon E, Okogbenin S, Unigwe U, Ogah E, Ayodeji O, Abejegah C, Liasu AA, Musa EO, Woldetsadik SF, Lasuba CLP, Alemu W, Ihekweazu C. Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria, January 1-May 6, 2018. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:1066-1074. [PMID: 31107222 PMCID: PMC6537738 DOI: 10.3201/eid2506.181035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The outbreak, which resulted in 423 confirmed cases and 106 deaths, was the largest recorded Lassa fever outbreak. Lassa fever (LF) is endemic to Nigeria, where the disease causes substantial rates of illness and death. In this article, we report an analysis of the epidemiologic and clinical aspects of the LF outbreak that occurred in Nigeria during January 1–May 6, 2018. A total of 1,893 cases were reported; 423 were laboratory-confirmed cases, among which 106 deaths were recorded (case-fatality rate 25.1%). Among all confirmed cases, 37 occurred in healthcare workers. The secondary attack rate among 5,001 contacts was 0.56%. Most (80.6%) confirmed cases were reported from 3 states (Edo, Ondo, and Ebonyi). Fatal outcomes were significantly associated with being elderly; no administration of ribavirin; and the presence of a cough, hemorrhaging, and unconsciousness. The findings in this study should lead to further LF research and provide guidance to those preparing to respond to future outbreaks.
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103
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Gary JM, Welch SR, Ritter JM, Coleman-McCray J, Huynh T, Kainulainen MH, Bollweg BC, Parihar V, Nichol ST, Zaki SR, Spiropoulou CF, Spengler JR. Lassa Virus Targeting of Anterior Uvea and Endothelium of Cornea and Conjunctiva in Eye of Guinea Pig Model. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:865-74. [PMID: 31002065 DOI: 10.3201/eid2505.181254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), a hemorrhagic fever virus endemic to West Africa, causes conjunctivitis in patients with acute disease. To examine ocular manifestations of LASV, we histologically examined eyes from infected guinea pigs. In fatal disease, LASV immunostaining was most prominent in the anterior uvea, especially in the filtration angle, ciliary body, and iris and in and around vessels in the bulbar conjunctiva and peripheral cornea, where it co-localized with an endothelial marker (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule). Antigen was primarily associated with infiltration of T-lymphocytes around vessels in the anterior uvea and with new vessel formation at the peripheral cornea. In animals that exhibited clinical signs but survived infection, eyes had little to no inflammation and no LASV immunostaining 6 weeks after infection. Overall, in this model, LASV antigen was restricted to the anterior uvea and was associated with mild chronic inflammation in animals with severe disease but was not detected in survivors.
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Zhu S, Wan W, Zhang Y, Shang W, Pan X, Zhang LK, Xiao G. Comprehensive Interactome Analysis Reveals that STT3B Is Required for N-Glycosylation of Lassa Virus Glycoprotein. J Virol 2019; 93:e01443-19. [PMID: 31511384 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01443-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycoproteins play vital roles in the arenavirus life cycle by facilitating virus entry and participating in the virus budding process. N-glycosylation of GPs is responsible for their proper functioning; however, little is known about the host factors on which the virus depends for this process. In this study, a comprehensive LASV GP interactome was characterized, and further study revealed that STT3B-dependent N-glycosylation was preferentially required by arenavirus GPs and critical for virus infectivity. The two specific thioredoxin subunits of STT3B-OST MAGT1 and TUSC3 were found to be essential for the N-glycosylation of viral GP. NGI-1, a small-molecule inhibitor of OST, also showed a robust inhibitory effect on arenavirus. Our study provides new insights into LASV GP-host interactions and extends the potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics against Lassa fever in the future. Lassa virus (LASV) is the causative agent of a fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans. The glycoprotein (GP) of LASV mediates viral entry into host cells, and correct processing and modification of GP by host factors is a prerequisite for virus replication. Here, using an affinity purification-coupled mass spectrometry (AP-MS) strategy, 591 host proteins were identified as interactors of LASV GP. Gene ontology analysis was performed to functionally annotate these proteins, and the oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) complex was highly enriched. Functional studies conducted by using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockouts showed that STT3A and STT3B, the two catalytically active isoforms of the OST complex, are essential for the propagation of the recombinant arenavirus rLCMV/LASV glycoprotein precursor, mainly via affecting virus infectivity. Knockout of STT3B, but not STT3A, caused hypoglycosylation of LASV GP, indicating a preferential requirement of LASV for the STT3B-OST isoform. Furthermore, double knockout of magnesium transporter 1 (MAGT1) and tumor suppressor candidate 3 (TUSC3), two specific subunits of STT3B-OST, also caused hypoglycosylation of LASV GP and affected virus propagation. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis revealed that the oxidoreductase CXXC active-site motif of MAGT1 or TUSC3 is essential for the glycosylation of LASV GP. NGI-1, a small-molecule OST inhibitor, can effectively reduce virus infectivity without affecting cell viability. The STT3B-dependent N-glycosylation of GP is conserved among other arenaviruses, including both the Old World and New World groups. Our study provided a systematic view of LASV GP-host interactions and revealed the preferential requirement of STT3B for LASV GP N-glycosylation. IMPORTANCE Glycoproteins play vital roles in the arenavirus life cycle by facilitating virus entry and participating in the virus budding process. N-glycosylation of GPs is responsible for their proper functioning; however, little is known about the host factors on which the virus depends for this process. In this study, a comprehensive LASV GP interactome was characterized, and further study revealed that STT3B-dependent N-glycosylation was preferentially required by arenavirus GPs and critical for virus infectivity. The two specific thioredoxin subunits of STT3B-OST MAGT1 and TUSC3 were found to be essential for the N-glycosylation of viral GP. NGI-1, a small-molecule inhibitor of OST, also showed a robust inhibitory effect on arenavirus. Our study provides new insights into LASV GP-host interactions and extends the potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics against Lassa fever in the future.
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105
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Shao J, Huang Q, Liu X, Di D, Dileepan M, Brisse M, Ly H, Liang Y. Biological Characterization of Conserved Residues within the Cytoplasmic Tail of the Pichinde Arenaviral Glycoprotein Subunit 2 (GP2). J Virol 2019; 93:e01277-19. [PMID: 31462569 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01277-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several mammarenaviruses can cause deadly hemorrhagic fever infections in humans, with limited preventative and therapeutic measures available. Arenavirus cell entry is mediated by the viral glycoprotein (GP) complex, which consists of the stable signal peptide (SSP), the receptor-binding subunit GP1, and the transmembrane subunit GP2. The GP2 cytoplasmic tail (CT) is relatively conserved among arenaviruses and is known to interact with the SSP to regulate GP processing and membrane fusion, but its biological role in the context of an infectious virus has not been fully characterized. Using a Pichinde virus (PICV) GP expression vector and a PICV reverse genetics system, we systematically characterized the functional roles of 12 conserved residues within the GP2 CT in GP processing, trafficking, assembly, and fusion, as well as in viral replication. Except for P478A and K505A R508A, alanine substitutions at conserved residues abolished GP processing and membrane fusion in plasmid-transfected cells. Six invariant H and C residues and W503 are essential for viral replication, as evidenced by the fact that their mutant viruses could not be rescued. Both P480A and R482A mutant viruses were rescued, grew similarly to wild-type (WT) virus, and produced evidently processed GP1 and GP2 subunits in virus-infected cells, despite the fact that the same mutations abolished GP processing and membrane fusion in a plasmid-based protein expression system, illustrating the importance of using an infectious-virus system for analyzing viral glycoprotein function. In summary, our results demonstrate an essential biological role of the GP2 CT in arenavirus replication and suggest it as a potential novel target for developing antivirals and/or attenuated viral vaccine candidates.IMPORTANCE Several arenaviruses, such as Lassa virus (LASV), can cause severe and lethal hemorrhagic fever diseases with high mortality and morbidity, for which no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics are available. Viral entry is mediated by the arenavirus GP complex, which consists of the stable signal peptide (SSP), the receptor-binding subunit GP1, and the transmembrane subunit GP2. The cytoplasmic tail (CT) of GP2 is highly conserved among arenaviruses, but its functional role in viral replication is not completely understood. Using a reverse genetics system of a prototypic arenavirus, Pichinde virus (PICV), we show that the GP2 CT contains certain conserved residues that are essential for virus replication, implicating it as a potentially good target for developing antivirals and live-attenuated viral vaccines against deadly arenavirus pathogens.
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106
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Ehichioya DU, Dellicour S, Pahlmann M, Rieger T, Oestereich L, Becker-Ziaja B, Cadar D, Ighodalo Y, Olokor T, Omomoh E, Oyakhilome J, Omiunu R, Agbukor J, Ebo B, Aiyepada J, Ebhodaghe P, Osiemi B, Ehikhametalor S, Akhilomen P, Airende M, Esumeh R, Muoebonam E, Giwa R, Ekanem A, Igenegbale G, Odigie G, Okonofua G, Enigbe R, Omonegho Yerumoh E, Pallasch E, Bockholt S, Kafetzopoulou LE, Duraffour S, Okokhere PO, Akpede GO, Okogbenin SA, Odia I, Aire C, Akpede N, Tobin E, Ogbaini-Emovon E, Lemey P, Adomeh DI, Asogun DA, Günther S. Phylogeography of Lassa Virus in Nigeria. J Virol 2019; 93:e00929-19. [PMID: 31413134 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00929-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus is the causative agent of Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever with a case fatality rate of approximately 30% in Africa. Previous studies disclosed a geographical pattern in the distribution of Lassa virus strains and a westward movement of the virus across West Africa during evolution. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the geography of genetic lineages and sublineages of the virus in Nigeria. In addition, we modeled how the virus spread in the country. This knowledge allows us to predict into which geographical areas the virus might spread in the future and prioritize areas for Lassa fever surveillance. Our study not only aimed to generate Lassa virus sequences from across Nigeria but also to isolate and conserve the respective viruses for future research. Both isolates and sequences are important for the development and evaluation of medical countermeasures to treat and prevent Lassa fever, such as diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Lassa virus is genetically diverse with several lineages circulating in West Africa. This study aimed at describing the sequence variability of Lassa virus across Nigeria and inferring its spatiotemporal evolution. We sequenced and isolated 77 Lassa virus strains from 16 Nigerian states. The final data set, including previous works, comprised metadata and sequences of 219 unique strains sampled between 1969 and 2018 in 22 states. Most of this data originated from Lassa fever patients diagnosed at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria. The majority of sequences clustered with the main Nigerian lineages II and III, while a few sequences formed a new cluster related to Lassa virus strains from Hylomyscus pamfi. Within lineages II and III, seven and five sublineages, respectively, were distinguishable. Phylogeographic analysis suggests an origin of lineage II in the southeastern part of the country around Ebonyi State and a main vector of dispersal toward the west across the Niger River, through Anambra, Kogi, Delta, and Edo into Ondo State. The frontline of virus dispersal appears to be in Ondo. Minor vectors are directed northeast toward Taraba and Adamawa and south toward Imo and Rivers. Lineage III might have spread from northern Plateau State into Kaduna, Nasarawa, Federal Capital Territory, and Bauchi. One sublineage moved south and crossed the Benue River into Benue State. This study provides a geographic mapping of lineages and phylogenetic clusters in Nigeria at a higher resolution. In addition, we estimated the direction and time frame of virus dispersal in the country. IMPORTANCE Lassa virus is the causative agent of Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever with a case fatality rate of approximately 30% in Africa. Previous studies disclosed a geographical pattern in the distribution of Lassa virus strains and a westward movement of the virus across West Africa during evolution. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the geography of genetic lineages and sublineages of the virus in Nigeria. In addition, we modeled how the virus spread in the country. This knowledge allows us to predict into which geographical areas the virus might spread in the future and prioritize areas for Lassa fever surveillance. Our study not only aimed to generate Lassa virus sequences from across Nigeria but also to isolate and conserve the respective viruses for future research. Both isolates and sequences are important for the development and evaluation of medical countermeasures to treat and prevent Lassa fever, such as diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
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107
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Mantlo E, Paessler S, Huang C. Differential Immune Responses to Hemorrhagic Fever-Causing Arenaviruses. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:E138. [PMID: 31581720 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7040138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Arenaviridae contains several pathogens of major clinical importance. The Old World (OW) arenavirus Lassa virus is endemic in West Africa and is estimated to cause up to 300,000 infections each year. The New World (NW) arenaviruses Junín and Machupo periodically cause hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in South America. While these arenaviruses are highly pathogenic in humans, recent evidence indicates that pathogenic OW and NW arenaviruses interact with the host immune system differently, which may have differential impacts on viral pathogenesis. Severe Lassa fever cases are characterized by profound immunosuppression. In contrast, pathogenic NW arenavirus infections are accompanied by elevated levels of Type I interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review aims to summarize recent findings about interactions of these pathogenic arenaviruses with the innate immune machinery and the subsequent effects on adaptive immunity, which may inform the development of vaccines and therapeutics against arenavirus infections.
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108
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Maruyama J, Manning JT, Mateer EJ, Sattler R, Bukreyeva N, Huang C, Paessler S. Lethal Infection of Lassa Virus Isolated from a Human Clinical Sample in Outbred Guinea Pigs without Adaptation. mSphere 2019; 4:e00428-19. [PMID: 31554720 DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00428-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus, the causative agent of Lassa fever, is a zoonotic pathogen causing annual outbreaks in West African countries. Human patients can develop lethal hemorrhagic fever in severe cases. Although Lassa virus is one of the most alarming pathogens from a public health perspective, there are few available countermeasures, such as antiviral drugs or vaccines. Moreover, the fact that animal models are not readily accessible and the fact that mostly laboratory viruses, which have been passaged many times after isolation, are used for studies further limits the successful development of countermeasures. In this study, we demonstrate that a human isolate of Lassa virus causes lethal infection uniformly in Hartley guinea pigs. This novel animal model of Lassa fever may contribute to Lassa fever research and the development of vaccines and therapeutics. Lassa virus (LASV), a member of the family Arenaviridae, is the causative agent of Lassa fever. Lassa virus is endemic in West African countries, such as Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and causes outbreaks annually. Lassa fever onset begins with “flu-like” symptoms and may develop into lethal hemorrhagic disease in severe cases. Although Lassa virus is one of the most alarming pathogens from a public health perspective, there are few licensed vaccines or therapeutics against Lassa fever. The fact that animal models are limited and the fact that mostly laboratory-derived viruses are used for studies limit the successful development of countermeasures. In this study, we demonstrated that the LASV isolate LF2384-NS-DIA-1 (LF2384), which was directly isolated from a serum sample from a fatal human Lassa fever case in the 2012 Sierra Leone outbreak, causes uniformly lethal infection in outbred Hartley guinea pigs without virus-host adaptation. This is the first report of a clinically isolated strain of LASV causing lethal infection in outbred guinea pigs. This novel guinea pig model of Lassa fever may contribute to Lassa fever research and the development of vaccines and therapeutics. IMPORTANCE Lassa virus, the causative agent of Lassa fever, is a zoonotic pathogen causing annual outbreaks in West African countries. Human patients can develop lethal hemorrhagic fever in severe cases. Although Lassa virus is one of the most alarming pathogens from a public health perspective, there are few available countermeasures, such as antiviral drugs or vaccines. Moreover, the fact that animal models are not readily accessible and the fact that mostly laboratory viruses, which have been passaged many times after isolation, are used for studies further limits the successful development of countermeasures. In this study, we demonstrate that a human isolate of Lassa virus causes lethal infection uniformly in Hartley guinea pigs. This novel animal model of Lassa fever may contribute to Lassa fever research and the development of vaccines and therapeutics.
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109
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Maruyama J, Mateer EJ, Manning JT, Sattler R, Seregin AV, Bukreyeva N, Jones FR, Balint JP, Gabitzsch ES, Huang C, Paessler S. Adenoviral vector-based vaccine is fully protective against lethal Lassa fever challenge in Hartley guinea pigs. Vaccine 2019; 37:6824-6831. [PMID: 31561999 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of Lassa fever (LF), was first identified in 1969. Since then, outbreaks in the endemic countries of Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone occur on an annual basis resulting in a case-fatality rate of 15-70% in hospitalized patients. There is currently no licensed vaccine and there are limited animal models to test vaccine efficacy. An estimated 37.7 million people are at risk of contracting LASV; therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of a safe, effective vaccine against LASV infection. The LF endemic countries are also inflicted with HIV, Ebola, and malaria infections. The safety in immunocompromised populations must be considered in LASV vaccine development. The novel adenovirus vector-based platform, Ad5 (E1-,E2b-) has been used in clinical trial protocols for treatment of immunocompromised individuals, has been shown to exhibit high stability, low safety risk in humans, and induces a strong cell-mediated and pro-inflammatory immune response even in the presence of pre-existing adenovirus immunity. To this nature, our lab has developed an Ad5 (E1-,E2b-) vector-based vaccine expressing the LASV-NP or LASV-GPC. We found that guinea pigs vaccinated with two doses of Ad5 (E1-,E2b-) LASV-NP and Ad5 (E1-,E2b-) LASV-GPC were protected against lethal LASV challenge. The Ad5 (E1-,E2b-) LASV-NP and LASV-GPC vaccine represents a potential vaccine candidate against LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junki Maruyama
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Mateer
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - John T Manning
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rachel Sattler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Alexey V Seregin
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Natalya Bukreyeva
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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110
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Abstract
The devastating Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak in West Africa in 2013-2016 has flagged the need for the timely development of vaccines for high-threat pathogens. To be better prepared for new epidemics, the WHO has compiled a list of priority pathogens that are likely to cause future outbreaks and for which R&D efforts are, therefore, paramount (R&D Blueprint: https://www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/en/ ). To this end, the detailed characterization of vaccine platforms is needed. The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been established as a robust vaccine vector backbone for infectious diseases for well over a decade. The recent clinical trials testing the vaccine candidate VSV-EBOV against EBOV disease now have added a substantial amount of clinical data and suggest VSV to be an ideal vaccine vector candidate for outbreak pathogens. In this review, we discuss insights gained from the clinical VSV-EBOV vaccine trials as well as from animal studies investigating vaccine candidates for Blueprint pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahita Fathi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medical-Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.,Department for Clinical Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems , Germany
| | - Christine Dahlke
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medical-Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.,Department for Clinical Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems , Germany
| | - Marylyn M Addo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medical-Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.,Department for Clinical Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems , Germany
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111
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Salu OB, James AB, Bankolé HS, Agbla JM, Da Silva M, Gbaguidi F, Loko CF, Omilabu SA. Molecular confirmation and phylogeny of Lassa fever virus in Benin Republic 2014-2016. Afr J Lab Med 2019; 8:803. [PMID: 31534915 PMCID: PMC6739551 DOI: 10.4102/ajlm.v8i1.803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The changing epidemiology of the Lassa virus from endemic areas to other parts of West Africa has been reported. However, there have been no documented Lassa fever transmission chains in the Benin Republic. Two outbreaks of Lassa fever (November 2014 and January 2016) in the Benin Republic were characterised by a high number of deaths (more than 50%) among 27 confirmed and other unconfirmed cases. Objectives We report the detection, confirmation and relatedness of the Lassa virus strains from the Benin Republic with other isolates within the West African Sub-region. Methods A total of 70 blood samples (16 from 2014 and 54 from 2016) from suspected cases with signs and symptoms suggestive of viral haemorrhagic fever were received for molecular analysis at the Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. With the detection of the Lassa virus RNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed using the Sanger dideoxy sequencing technology platform and the MEGA6 software. Results S segments of the Lassa virus RNA genome were detected in 5 (7.1%) of the 70 samples analysed. Sequencing and a phylogenetic tree construction confirmed that the strain of Lassa virus had close relationships with strains previously isolated from Nigeria. Conclusion We confirmed the presence of the Lassa virus in the Benin Republic, with 2 strains having molecular epidemiological links with Lineage I and II strains from Nigeria. To reduce the likelihood of outbreaks, there is a need for heightened awareness and strengthened surveillance systems about Lassa fever, particularly in the sub-region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olumuyiwa B Salu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.,Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology, Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Ayorinde B James
- Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology, Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.,Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Honoré S Bankolé
- Department of Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin, Benin.,National Laboratory of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Benin, Benin
| | - Jijoho M Agbla
- National Laboratory of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Benin, Benin
| | - Magloire Da Silva
- National Laboratory of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Benin, Benin
| | - Fernand Gbaguidi
- National Laboratory of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Benin, Benin.,Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Christian F Loko
- De la Pharmacie, du Medicament et des Explorations Diagnostiques, Ministére de la Santé, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Sunday A Omilabu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.,Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology, Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
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112
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Zhang X, Wang C, Chen B, Wang Q, Xu W, Ye S, Jiang S, Zhu Y, Zhang R. Crystal Structure of Refolding Fusion Core of Lassa Virus GP2 and Design of Lassa Virus Fusion Inhibitors. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1829. [PMID: 31456769 PMCID: PMC6700223 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The envelope glycoproteins GP1 and GP2 of Lassa virus (LASV) bind to the host cell receptors to mediate viral infection. So far, no approved vaccines and specific treatment options against LASV exist. To develop specific fusion inhibitors against LASV, we solved the crystal structure of the post-fusion 6 helix bundle (6-HB) formed by two heptad repeat domains (HR1 and HR2) of GP2. This fusion core contains a parallel trimeric coiled-coil of three HR1 helices, around which three HR2 helices are entwined in an antiparallel manner. Various hydrophobic and charged interactions form between HR1 and HR2 domains to stabilize the overall conformation of GP2 fusion core. Based on the structure, we designed several peptides spanning the HR2 domain and tested their antiviral activities. We found that the longer HR2 peptides were effective in inhibiting LASV GPC protein-mediated cell–cell fusion under low pH condition. These results not only suggest that LASV infects the target cell mainly through endocytosis, including micropinocytosis, and membrane fusion at low pH, but also provide an important basis for rational design of LASV fusion inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH/CAMS, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan-Jinbo Joint Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Baohua Chen
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH/CAMS, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan-Jinbo Joint Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH/CAMS, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan-Jinbo Joint Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Ye
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute of Medicine and Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH/CAMS, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan-Jinbo Joint Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yun Zhu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rongguang Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Center for Protein Science Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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113
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Kim YJ, Cubitt B, Chen E, Hull MV, Chatterjee AK, Cai Y, Kuhn JH, de la Torre JC. The ReFRAME library as a comprehensive drug repurposing library to identify mammarenavirus inhibitors. Antiviral Res 2019; 169:104558. [PMID: 31302150 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Several mammarenaviruses, chiefly Lassa virus (LASV) in Western Africa and Junín virus (JUNV) in the Argentine Pampas, cause severe disease in humans and pose important public health problems in their endemic regions. Moreover, mounting evidence indicates that the worldwide-distributed mammarenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a neglected human pathogen of clinical significance. The lack of licensed mammarenavirus vaccines and partial efficacy of current anti-mammarenavirus therapy limited to an off-label use of the nucleoside analog ribavirin underscore an unmet need for novel therapeutics to combat human pathogenic mammarenavirus infections. This task can be facilitated by the implementation of "drug repurposing" strategies to reduce the time and resources required to advance identified antiviral drug candidates into the clinic. We screened a drug repurposing library of 11,968 compounds (Repurposing, Focused Rescue and Accelerated Medchem [ReFRAME]) and identified several potent inhibitors of LCMV multiplication that had also strong anti-viral activity against LASV and JUNV. Our findings indicate that enzymes of the rate-limiting steps of pyrimidine and purine biosynthesis, the pro-viral MCL1 apoptosis regulator, BCL2 family member protein and the mitochondrial electron transport complex III, play critical roles in the completion of the mammarenavirus life cycle, suggesting they represent potential druggable targets to counter human pathogenic mammarenavirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jin Kim
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Beatrice Cubitt
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Emily Chen
- California Institute for Biomedical Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Mitchell V Hull
- California Institute for Biomedical Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | | | - Yingyun Cai
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Juan C de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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114
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Keïta M, Kizerbo GA, Subissi L, Traoré FA, Doré A, Camara MF, Barry A, Pallawo R, Baldé MO, Magassouba N, Djingarey MH, Fall IS. Investigation of a cross-border case of Lassa fever in West Africa. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:606. [PMID: 31291900 PMCID: PMC6621975 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4240-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infectious disease prevention and control strategies require a coordinated, transnational approach. To establish core capacities of the International Health Regulations (IHR), the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy. Epidemic-prone Lassa fever, caused by Lassa virus, is an endemic disease in the West African countries of Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo and Nigeria. It’s one of the major public health threats in these countries. Here it is reported an epidemiological investigation of a cross-border case of Lassa fever, which demonstrated the importance of strengthened capacities of IHR and IDSR. Case presentation On January 9th, 2018 a 35-year-old Guinean woman with fever, neck pain, body pain, and vomiting went to a hospital in Ganta, Liberia. Over the course of her illness, the case visited various health care facilities in both Liberia and Guinea. A sample collected on January 10th was tested positive for Lassa virus by RT-PCR in a Liberian laboratory. The Guinean Ministry of Health (MoH) was officially informed by WHO Country Office for Guinea and for Liberia. Conclusion This case report revealed how an epidemic-prone disease such as Lassa fever can rapidly spread across land borders and how such threat can be quickly controlled with communication and collaboration within the IHR framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mory Keïta
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé - Bureau Régional de l'Afrique, BP: 06, Cité du Djoué, Brazzaville, Congo.
| | - Georges Alfred Kizerbo
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé - Bureau de Pays de la Guinée, BP: 817, Immeuble BAH, Quartier Cameroun, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Lorenzo Subissi
- Sciensano, 1050 Ixelles, Rue Juliette Wytsman 14, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fodé Amara Traoré
- Université Gamal Abdel Nasser, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de la Santé, BP: 1147, Commune de Dixinn, Route de Donka, Quartier Landréah, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Ahmadou Doré
- Université Gamal Abdel Nasser, Laboratoire National des Fièvres Hémorragiques de Guinée, Carrefour Nongo-Conteyah, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Mohamed Fode Camara
- Ministère de la Santé, BP: 585, Boulevard du commerce - Almamya Kaloum, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Ahmadou Barry
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé - Bureau de Pays de la Guinée, BP: 817, Immeuble BAH, Quartier Cameroun, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Raymond Pallawo
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé - Bureau de Pays de la Guinée, BP: 817, Immeuble BAH, Quartier Cameroun, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Mamadou Oury Baldé
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé - Bureau de Pays de la Guinée, BP: 817, Immeuble BAH, Quartier Cameroun, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Nfaly Magassouba
- Université Gamal Abdel Nasser, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de la Santé, BP: 1147, Commune de Dixinn, Route de Donka, Quartier Landréah, Conakry, Guinea.,Université Gamal Abdel Nasser, Laboratoire National des Fièvres Hémorragiques de Guinée, Carrefour Nongo-Conteyah, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé - Bureau Régional de l'Afrique, BP: 06, Cité du Djoué, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Ibrahima Socé Fall
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé - Bureau Régional de l'Afrique, BP: 06, Cité du Djoué, Brazzaville, Congo
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115
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Zhang X, Yan F, Tang K, Chen Q, Guo J, Zhu W, He S, Banadyga L, Qiu X, Guo Y. Identification of a clinical compound losmapimod that blocks Lassa virus entry. Antiviral Res 2019; 167:68-77. [PMID: 30953674 PMCID: PMC7111477 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) causes Lassa hemorrhagic fever in humans and poses a significant threat to public health in West Africa. Current therapeutic treatments for Lassa fever are limited, making the development of novel countermeasures an urgent priority. In this study, we identified losmapimod, a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, from 102 screened compounds as an inhibitor of LASV infection. Losmapimod exerted its inhibitory effect against LASV after p38 MAPK down-regulation, and, interestingly, had no effect on other arenaviruses capable of causing viral hemorrhagic fever. Mechanistic studies showed that losmapimod inhibited LASV entry by affecting the stable signal peptide (SSP)-GP2 subunit interface of the LASV glycoprotein, thereby blocking pH-dependent viral fusion. As an aryl heteroaryl bis-carboxyamide derivative, losmapimod represents a novel chemical scaffold with anti-LASV activity, and it provides a new lead structure for the future development of LASV fusion inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Feihu Yan
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0J9, Canada; Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Institute of Military Veterinary, Academy of Military Medical Science, Changchun, China
| | - Ke Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Qing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jiamei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China; Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Shihua He
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Logan Banadyga
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Xiangguo Qiu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - Ying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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116
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Dedkov VG, Magassouba N'F, Safonova MV, Naydenova EV, Ayginin AA, Soropogui B, Kourouma F, Camara AB, Camara J, Kritzkiy AA, Tuchkov IV, Shchelkanov MY, Maleev VV. Development and Evaluation of a One-Step Quantitative RT-PCR Assay for Detection of Lassa Virus. J Virol Methods 2019; 271:113674. [PMID: 31170468 PMCID: PMC7113850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.113674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Lassa fever is a severe viral hemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus. Based on estimates, the number of LASV infections ranges from 300,000 to 500,000 cases in endemic areas with a fatality rate of 1%. Development of fast and sensitive tools for the control and prevention of Lassa virus infection as well as for clinical diagnostics of Lassa fever are crucial. Here we reported development and evaluation of a one-step quantitative RT-qPCR assay for the Lassa virus detection - LASV-Fl. This assay is suitable for the detection of lineages I-IV of Lassa virus. The limit of detection of the assay ranged from 103 copies/ml to 105 copies/ml and has 96.4% diagnostic sensitivity, whereas analytical and diagnostic specificities both were 100%. Serum, whole blood and tissue are suitable for use with the assay. The assay contains all the necessary components to perform the analysis, including an armored positive control (ARC+) and an armored internal control (IC). The study was done during the mission of specialized anti-epidemic team of the Russian Federation (SAET) in the Republic of Guinea in 2015-2018. Based on sequencing data, LASV-specific assay was developed using synthetic MS2-phage-based armored RNA particles, RNA from Lassa virus strain Josiah, and further, evaluated in field conditions using samples from patients and Mastomys natalensis rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir G Dedkov
- Pasteur Institute, Federal Service on Consumers' Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
| | - N 'Faly Magassouba
- Laboratorie de Virologic B1568, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Projet de Recherche sur les Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Marina V Safonova
- Anti-Plague Center, Federal Service on Consumers' Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina V Naydenova
- Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute «Microbe», Federal Service on Consumers' Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance, Saratov, Russia
| | - Andrey A Ayginin
- Central Research Institute for Epidemiology, Federal Service on Consumers' Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance, Moscow, Russia
| | - Barre Soropogui
- Laboratorie de Virologic B1568, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Projet de Recherche sur les Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Fode Kourouma
- Laboratorie de Virologic B1568, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Projet de Recherche sur les Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Amara B Camara
- Laboratorie de Virologic B1568, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Projet de Recherche sur les Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Jacob Camara
- Laboratorie de Virologic B1568, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Projet de Recherche sur les Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Andrey A Kritzkiy
- Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute «Microbe», Federal Service on Consumers' Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance, Saratov, Russia
| | - Igor V Tuchkov
- Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute «Microbe», Federal Service on Consumers' Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance, Saratov, Russia
| | | | - Victor V Maleev
- Central Research Institute for Epidemiology, Federal Service on Consumers' Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance, Moscow, Russia
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117
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Stein DR, Sroga P, Warner BM, Deschambault Y, Poliquin G, Safronetz D. Evaluating Temperature Sensitivity of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Based Vaccines. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:1563-1566. [PMID: 31141474 PMCID: PMC6649338 DOI: 10.3201/eid2508.190281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Use of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based Ebola virus vaccine during outbreaks and the potential use of a similar VSV-based Lassa virus vaccine has raised questions about the vaccines' stability should the cold chain fail. We demonstrated that current cold chain conditions might tolerate significant variances without affecting efficacy.
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118
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Ilori EA, Frank C, Dan-Nwafor CC, Ipadeola O, Krings A, Ukponu W, Womi-Eteng OE, Adeyemo A, Mutbam SK, Musa EO, Lasuba CLP, Alemu W, Okogbenin S, Ogbaini E, Unigwe U, Ogah E, Onoh R, Abejegah C, Ayodeji O, Ihekweazu C. Increase in Lassa Fever Cases in Nigeria, January-March 2018. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:1026-1027. [PMID: 30807268 PMCID: PMC6478197 DOI: 10.3201/eid2505.181247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We reviewed data pertaining to the massive wave of Lassa fever cases that occurred in Nigeria in 2018. No new virus strains were detected, but in 2018, the outbreak response was intensified, additional diagnostic support was available, and surveillance sensitivity increased. These factors probably contributed to the high case count.
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119
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Davies J, Lokuge K, Glass K. Routine and pulse vaccination for Lassa virus could reduce high levels of endemic disease: A mathematical modelling study. Vaccine 2019; 37:3451-3456. [PMID: 31088745 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Lassa fever is an acute viral illness caused by Lassa virus (LASV), a rodent-borne pathogen. LASV is endemic to much of Sub-Saharan West Africa, where seasonal outbreaks cause significant morbidity and mortality. Increased global awareness of LASV has led to development of improved diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines. As vaccine candidates are trialled, it is essential to assess the potential outcomes of introducing a LASV vaccination program in endemic regions. This study investigates the potential outcomes of routine and pulse vaccination strategies using a deterministic mathematical model that captures seasonal LASV transmission between rodents and humans. For plausible parameter values, we find that immunization of 40% of infants at 70% vaccine effectiveness achieves a population-level reduction in infectious case numbers of 30%, while coverage of 60% at 90% vaccine effectiveness achieves a 56% reduction. Similar reductions can be achieved more rapidly via population-wide pulse vaccination at 11% coverage (30% reduction at 70% effectiveness) or 23% coverage (56% reduction at 90% effectiveness) repeated every 10 years. Similar pulse vaccine doses delivered at reduced frequency, but increased coverage achieves a greater reduction in infectious cases. Findings around infant vaccination are sensitive to our assumption that immunity is life-long, while pulse-vaccination has only slightly reduced effect if immunity lasts 10-30 years. An effective LASV vaccination program would incorporate pulse vaccination in addition to routine childhood immunization to limit disease. Estimates of feasible vaccine coverage and effectiveness are needed to fully quantify the likely benefits of a vaccination program in LASV endemic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Davies
- Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Kamalini Lokuge
- Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Kathryn Glass
- Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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120
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Purushotham J, Lambe T, Gilbert SC. Vaccine platforms for the prevention of Lassa fever. Immunol Lett 2019; 215:1-11. [PMID: 31026485 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The epidemiological significance of Lassa fever in West Africa is discussed. Viral ecology, pathology, and immunobiology of Lassa virus infection is described. Multiple vaccine candidates have been tested in pre-clinical models. Lassa fever vaccine candidates have yet to progress to clinical trials. Five platform technologies have been selected for expedited development.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus (LASV), which is endemic throughout much of West Africa. The virus primarily circulates in the Mastomys natalensis reservoir and is transmitted to humans through contact with infectious rodents or their secretions; human-to-human transmission is documented as well. With the exception of Dengue fever, LASV has the highest human impact of any haemorrhagic fever virus. On-going outbreaks in Nigeria have resulted in unprecedented mortality. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed LASV as a high priority pathogen for the development of treatments and prophylactics. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines to protect against LASV infection. Although numerous candidates have demonstrated efficacy in animal models, to date, only a single candidate has advanced to clinical trials. Lassa fever vaccine development efforts have been hindered by the high cost of biocontainment requirements, the absence of established correlates of protection, and uncertainty regarding the extent to which animal models are predictive of vaccine efficacy in humans. This review briefly discusses the epidemiology and biology of LASV infection and highlights recent progress in vaccine development.
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121
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Pemba CM, Kurosaki Y, Yoshikawa R, Oloniniyi OK, Urata S, Sueyoshi M, Zadeh VR, Nwafor I, Iroezindu MO, Ajayi NA, Chukwubike CM, Chika-Igwenyi NM, Ndu AC, Nwidi DU, Maehira Y, Unigwe US, Ojide CK, Onwe EO, Yasuda J. Development of an RT-LAMP assay for the detection of Lassa viruses in southeast and south-central Nigeria. J Virol Methods 2019; 269:30-37. [PMID: 30974179 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) causes Lassa fever (LF), a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. LASV strains are clustered into six lineages according to their geographic location. To confirm a diagnosis of LF, a laboratory test is required. Here, a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay using a portable device for the detection of LASV in southeast and south-central Nigeria using three primer sets specific for strains clustered in lineage II was developed. The assay detected in vitro transcribed LASV RNAs within 23 min and was further evaluated for detection in 73 plasma collected from suspected LF patients admitted into two health settings in southern Nigeria. The clinical evaluation using the conventional RT-PCR as the reference test revealed a sensitivity of 50% in general with 100% for samples with a viral titer of 9500 genome equivalent copies (geq)/mL and higher. The detection limit was estimated to be 4214 geq/mL. The assay showed 98% specificity with no cross-reactivity to other viruses which cause similar symptoms. These results suggest that this RT-LAMP assay is a useful molecular diagnostic test for LF during the acute phase, contributing to early patient management, while using a convenient device for field deployment and in resource-poor settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle M Pemba
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Yohei Kurosaki
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Rokusuke Yoshikawa
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Olamide K Oloniniyi
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Shuzo Urata
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Maki Sueyoshi
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Vahid R Zadeh
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Ifeanyi Nwafor
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Michael O Iroezindu
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla, P.M.B. 01129, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Nnenna A Ajayi
- Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, P.M.B. 01129, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Chinedu M Chukwubike
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, P.M.B. 01129, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Nneka M Chika-Igwenyi
- Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, P.M.B. 01129, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Anne C Ndu
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla, P.M.B. 01129, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Damian U Nwidi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Yuki Maehira
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; St Luke's International University, Graduate School of Public Health, 3-6-2, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
| | - Uche S Unigwe
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department of Medicine, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Chiedozie K Ojide
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Emeka O Onwe
- Department of Medicine, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Pediatrics Department, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, P.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Jiro Yasuda
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Diseases, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
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Grahn A, Bråve A, Tolfvenstam T, Studahl M. Absence of Nosocomial Transmission of Imported Lassa Fever during Use of Standard Barrier Nursing Methods. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:978-987. [PMID: 29775178 PMCID: PMC6004835 DOI: 10.3201/eid2406.172097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nosocomial transmission of Lassa virus (LASV) is reported to be low when care for the index patient includes proper barrier nursing methods. We investigated whether asymptomatic LASV infection occurred in healthcare workers who used standard barrier nursing methods during the first 15 days of caring for a patient with Lassa fever in Sweden. Of 76 persons who were defined as having been potentially exposed to LASV, 53 provided blood samples for detection of LASV IgG. These persons also responded to a detailed questionnaire to evaluate exposure to different body fluids from the index patient. LASV-specific IgG was not detected in any of the 53 persons. Five of 53 persons had not been using proper barrier nursing methods. Our results strengthen the argument for a low risk of secondary transmission of LASV in humans when standard barrier nursing methods are used and the patient has only mild symptoms.
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123
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Schaeffer J, Reynard S, Carnec X, Pietrosemoli N, Dillies MA, Baize S. Non-Pathogenic Mopeia Virus Induces More Robust Activation of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells than Lassa Virus. Viruses 2019; 11:v11030287. [PMID: 30901952 PMCID: PMC6466290 DOI: 10.3390/v11030287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) causes a viral haemorrhagic fever in humans and is a major public health concern in West Africa. An efficient immune response to LASV appears to rely on type I interferon (IFN-I) production and T-cell activation. We evaluated the response of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) to LASV, as they are an important and early source of IFN-I. We compared the response of primary human pDCs to LASV and Mopeia virus (MOPV), which is very closely related to LASV, but non-pathogenic. We showed that pDCs are not productively infected by either MOPV or LASV, but produce IFN-I. However, the activation of pDCs was more robust in response to MOPV than LASV. In vivo, pDC activation may support the control of viral replication through IFN-I production, but also improve the induction of a global immune response. Therefore, pDC activation could play a role in the control of LASV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Schaeffer
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), 69007 Lyon, France.
| | - Stéphanie Reynard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), 69007 Lyon, France.
| | - Xavier Carnec
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), 69007 Lyon, France.
| | - Natalia Pietrosemoli
- Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique⁻C3BI, Institut Pasteur, USR 3756 CNRS, 75015 Paris, France.
| | - Marie-Agnès Dillies
- Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique⁻C3BI, Institut Pasteur, USR 3756 CNRS, 75015 Paris, France.
| | - Sylvain Baize
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), 69007 Lyon, France.
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Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a highly prevalent mammarenavirus in West Africa and is maintained in nature in a persistently infected rodent host, Mastomys natalensis, which is widely spread in sub-Saharan Africa. LASV infection of humans can cause Lassa fever (LF), a disease associated with high morbidity and significant mortality. Recent evidence indicates an LASV expansion outside its traditional endemic areas. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) included LASV in top-priority pathogens and released a Target Product Profile (TPP) for vaccine development. Likewise, in 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration added LF to a priority review voucher program to encourage the development of preventive and therapeutics measures. In this article, we review recent progress in LASV vaccine research and development with a focus on the impact of LASV genetic and biological diversity on the design and development of vaccine candidates meeting the WHO's TPP for an LASV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor S Lukashevich
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology IMM-6, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
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125
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Wauquier N, Petitdemange C, Tarantino N, Maucourant C, Coomber M, Lungay V, Bangura J, Debré P, Vieillard V. HLA-C-restricted viral epitopes are associated with an escape mechanism from KIR2DL2 + NK cells in Lassa virus infection. EBioMedicine 2019; 40:605-613. [PMID: 30711514 PMCID: PMC6413685 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.01.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lassa virus (LASV) is the etiologic agent of an acute hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. Natural killer (NK) cells control viral infections in part through the interaction between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their ligands. LASV infection is associated with defective immune responses, including inhibition of NK cell activity in the presence of MHC-class 1+-infected target cells. Methods We compared individual KIR and HLA-class 1 genotypes of 68 healthy volunteers to 51 patients infected with LASV in Sierra Leone, including 37 survivors and 14 fatalities. Next, potential HLA-C1, HLA-C2, and HLA-Bw4 binding epitopes were in silico screened among LASV nucleoprotein (NP) and envelope glycoprotein (GP). Selected 10-mer peptides were then tested in peptide-HLA stabilization, KIR binding and polyfunction assays. Findings LASV-infected patients were similar to healthy controls, except for the inhibitory KIR2DL2 gene. We found a specific increase in the HLA-C1:KIR2DL2 interaction in fatalities (10/11) as compared to survivors (12/19) and controls (19/29). We also identified that strong of NP and GP viral epitopes was only observed with HLA-C molecules, and associated with strong inhibition of degranulation in the presence of KIR2DL+ NK cells. This inhibitory effect significantly increased in the presence of the vGP420 variant, detected in 28.1% of LASV sequences. Interpretation Our finding suggests that presentation of specific LASV epitopes by HLA-C alleles to the inhibitory KIR2DL2 receptor on NK cells could potentially prevent the killing of infected cells and provides insights into the mechanisms by which LASV can escape NK-cell-mediated immune pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Wauquier
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France; Metabiota, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Caroline Petitdemange
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | - Nadine Tarantino
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | - Christopher Maucourant
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Patrice Debré
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | - Vincent Vieillard
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France.
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126
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Omotuyi OI, Nash O, Safronetz D, Ojo AA, Ogunwa TH, Adelakun NS. T-705-modified ssRNA in complex with Lassa virus nucleoprotein exhibits nucleotide splaying and increased water influx into the RNA-binding pocket. Chem Biol Drug Des 2019; 93:544-555. [PMID: 30536557 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Lassa virus infection is clinically characterized by multiorgan failure in humans. Without an FDA-approved vaccine, ribavirin is the frontline drug for the treatment but with attendant toxicities. 6-Fluoro-3-hydroxy-2-pyrazinecarboxamide (T-705) is an emerging alternative drug with proven anti-Lassa virus activity in experimental model. One of the mechanisms of action is its incorporation into nascent single-strand RNA (ssRNA) which forms complex with Lassa nucleoprotein (LASV-NP). Here, using molecular dynamics simulation, the structural and electrostatics changes associated with LASV-NP-ssRNA complex have been studied when none, one, or four of its bases has been substituted with T-705. The results demonstrated that glycosidic torsion angle χ (O4'-C1'-N1-C2) rotated from high-anti- (-110° and -60°) to the syn- conformation (+30) with increased T-705 substitution. Similarly, increased T-705 substitution resulted in increased splaying (55°-70°), loss of ssRNA-LASV-NP H-bond interaction, increased water influx into the ssRNA-binding pocket, and decreased electrostatic potentials of ssRNA pocket. Furthermore, strong positively correlated motion observed between α6 residues (aa: 128-145) and its contact ssRNA bases (5-7) is weakened in Apo biosystem and transitioned into anticorrelated motions in ssRNA-bound LASV-NP biosystem. Finally, LASV genome may become more accessible to cellular ribonuclease access with T-705 incorporation due to loss of NP interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaposi I Omotuyi
- Center for Biocomputing and Drug Development, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria
| | - Oyekanmi Nash
- Center for Genomics Research and Innovation, National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA/FMST, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - David Safronetz
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ayodeji A Ojo
- Department of Public and Community Health, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
| | - Tomisin H Ogunwa
- Center for Biocomputing and Drug Development, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria.,School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Niyi S Adelakun
- Center for Biocomputing and Drug Development, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria
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Perdomo-Celis F, Salvato MS, Medina-Moreno S, Zapata JC. T-Cell Response to Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:E11. [PMID: 30678246 PMCID: PMC6466054 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) are a group of clinically similar diseases that can be caused by enveloped RNA viruses primarily from the families Arenaviridae, Filoviridae, Hantaviridae, and Flaviviridae. Clinically, this group of diseases has in common fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, and other associated symptoms that can progress to vascular leakage, bleeding and multi-organ failure. Most of these viruses are zoonotic causing asymptomatic infections in the primary host, but in human beings, the infection can be lethal. Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that the T-cell response is needed for protection against VHF, but can also cause damage to the host, and play an important role in disease pathogenesis. Here, we present a review of the T-cell immune responses to VHF and insights into the possible ways to improve counter-measures for these viral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Perdomo-Celis
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, 050010, Colombia.
- Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Maria S Salvato
- Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Sandra Medina-Moreno
- Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Juan C Zapata
- Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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128
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Whitmer SL, Strecker T, Cadar D, Dienes HP, Faber K, Patel K, Brown SM, Davis WG, Klena JD, Rollin PE, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Fichet-Calvet E, Noack B, Emmerich P, Rieger T, Wolff S, Fehling SK, Eickmann M, Mengel JP, Schultze T, Hain T, Ampofo W, Bonney K, Aryeequaye JND, Ribner B, Varkey JB, Mehta AK, Lyon GM, Kann G, De Leuw P, Schuettfort G, Stephan C, Wieland U, Fries JW, Kochanek M, Kraft CS, Wolf T, Nichol ST, Becker S, Ströher U, Günther S. New Lineage of Lassa Virus, Togo, 2016. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:599-602. [PMID: 29460758 PMCID: PMC5823357 DOI: 10.3201/eid2403.171905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a strain of Lassa virus representing a putative new lineage that was isolated from a cluster of human infections with an epidemiologic link to Togo. This finding extends the known range of Lassa virus to Togo.
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129
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Johnson DM, Jokinen JD, Lukashevich IS. Attenuated Replication of Lassa Virus Vaccine Candidate ML29 in STAT-1 -/- Mice. Pathogens 2019; 8:E9. [PMID: 30650607 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), a highly prevalent mammalian arenavirus endemic in West Africa, can cause Lassa fever (LF), which is responsible for thousands of deaths annually. LASV is transmitted to humans from naturally infected rodents. At present, there is not an effective vaccine nor treatment. The genetic diversity of LASV is the greatest challenge for vaccine development. The reassortant ML29 carrying the L segment from the nonpathogenic Mopeia virus (MOPV) and the S segment from LASV is a vaccine candidate under current development. ML29 demonstrated complete protection in validated animal models against a Nigerian strain from clade II, which was responsible for the worst outbreak on record in 2018. This study demonstrated that ML29 was more attenuated than MOPV in STAT1-/- mice, a small animal model of human LF and its sequelae. ML29 infection of these mice resulted in more than a thousand-fold reduction in viremia and viral load in tissues and strong LASV-specific adaptive T cell responses compared to MOPV-infected mice. Persistent infection of Vero cells with ML29 resulted in generation of interfering particles (IPs), which strongly interfered with the replication of LASV, MOPV and LCMV, the prototype of the Arenaviridae. ML29 IPs induced potent cell-mediated immunity and were fully attenuated in STAT1-/- mice. Formulation of ML29 with IPs will improve the breadth of the host’s immune responses and further contribute to development of a pan-LASV vaccine with full coverage meeting the WHO requirements.
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130
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Mariën J, Borremans B, Kourouma F, Baforday J, Rieger T, Günther S, Magassouba N, Leirs H, Fichet-Calvet E. Evaluation of rodent control to fight Lassa fever based on field data and mathematical modelling. Emerg Microbes Infect 2019; 8:640-649. [PMID: 31007139 PMCID: PMC7011821 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1605846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is the reservoir host of Lassa virus, an arenavirus that causes Lassa haemorrhagic fever in humans in West Africa. Because no vaccine exists and therapeutic options are limited, preventing infection through rodent control and human behavioural measures is currently considered to be the only option. In order to assess the efficacy of rodent control, we performed a 4-year field experiment in rural Upper Guinea and developed a mathematical model to simulate different control strategies (annual density control, continuous density control, and rodent vaccination). For the field study, rodenticide baits were placed each year in three rural villages, while three other villages were used as controls. Rodents were trapped before and after every treatment and their antibody status and age were determined. Data from the field study were used to parameterize the mathematical model. In the field study, we found a significant negative effect of rodent control on seroprevalence, but this effect was small especially given the effort. Furthermore, the rodent populations recovered rapidly after rodenticide application, leading us to conclude that an annual control strategy is unlikely to significantly reduce Lassa virus spillover to humans. In agreement with this finding, the mathematical model suggests that the use of continuous control or rodent vaccination is the only strategy that could lead to Lassa virus elimination. These field and model results can serve as a guide for determining how long and frequent rodent control should be done in order to eliminate Lassa virus in rural villages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Mariën
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Benny Borremans
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics (I-BIOSTAT), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Fodé Kourouma
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques, Nongo, Guinée
| | - Jatta Baforday
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Toni Rieger
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Günther
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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131
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Willard KA, Alston JT, Acciani M, Brindley MA. Identification of Residues in Lassa Virus Glycoprotein Subunit 2 That Are Critical for Protein Function. Pathogens 2018; 8:E1. [PMID: 30587764 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is an Old World arenavirus, endemic to West Africa, capable of causing hemorrhagic fever. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or effective antivirals for LASV. However, thorough understanding of the LASV glycoprotein and entry into host cells could accelerate therapeutic design. LASV entry is a two-step process involving the viral glycoprotein (GP). First, the GP subunit 1 (GP1) binds to the cell surface receptor and the viral particle is engulfed into an endosome. Next, the drop in pH triggers GP rearrangements, which ultimately leads to the GP subunit 2 (GP2) forming a six-helix-bundle (6HB). The process of GP2 forming 6HB fuses the lysosomal membrane with the LASV envelope, allowing the LASV genome to enter the host cell. The aim of this study was to identify residues in GP2 that are crucial for LASV entry. To achieve this, we performed alanine scanning mutagenesis on GP2 residues. We tested these mutant GPs for efficient GP1-GP2 cleavage, cell-to-cell membrane fusion, and transduction into cells expressing α-dystroglycan and secondary LASV receptors. In total, we identified seven GP2 mutants that were cleaved efficiently but were unable to effectively transduce cells: GP-L280A, GP-L285A/I286A, GP-I323A, GP-L394A, GP-I403A, GP-L415A, and GP-R422A. Therefore, the data suggest these residues are critical for GP2 function in LASV entry.
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Ziegler CM, Eisenhauer P, Manuelyan I, Weir ME, Bruce EA, Ballif BA, Botten J. Host-Driven Phosphorylation Appears to Regulate the Budding Activity of the Lassa Virus Matrix Protein. Pathogens 2018; 7:pathogens7040097. [PMID: 30544850 PMCID: PMC6313517 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens7040097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa mammarenavirus (LASV) is an enveloped RNA virus that can cause Lassa fever, an acute hemorrhagic fever syndrome associated with significant morbidity and high rates of fatality in endemic regions of western Africa. The arenavirus matrix protein Z has several functions during the virus life cycle, including coordinating viral assembly, driving the release of new virus particles, regulating viral polymerase activity, and antagonizing the host antiviral response. There is limited knowledge regarding how the various functions of Z are regulated. To investigate possible means of regulation, mass spectrometry was used to identify potential sites of phosphorylation in the LASV Z protein. This analysis revealed that two serines (S18, S98) and one tyrosine (Y97) are phosphorylated in the flexible N- and C-terminal regions of the protein. Notably, two of these sites, Y97 and S98, are located in (Y97) or directly adjacent to (S98) the PPXY late domain, an important motif for virus release. Studies with non-phosphorylatable and phosphomimetic Z proteins revealed that these sites are important regulators of the release of LASV particles and that host-driven, reversible phosphorylation may play an important role in the regulation of LASV Z protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Ziegler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunobiology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
| | - Philip Eisenhauer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunobiology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
| | - Inessa Manuelyan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunobiology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
- Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
| | - Marion E Weir
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
| | - Emily A Bruce
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunobiology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
| | - Bryan A Ballif
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
| | - Jason Botten
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunobiology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
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Ackermann-Gäumann R, Siegrist D, Züst R, Signer J, Lenz N, Engler O. Standardized focus assay protocol for biosafety level four viruses. J Virol Methods 2018; 264:51-54. [PMID: 30513365 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Working in accordance with biosafety level four practices is highly complex and time-consuming. Therefore, the respective laboratory protocols should be as uniform as possible, simple to perform and straightforward in readout. Here we describe the successful application of a standardized 24-well plate focus assay protocol for the titration of Zaire ebolavirus (two isolates), Marburg virus (three isolates), Lassa virus (two isolates), Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (one isolate), and tick-borne encephalitis virus (two isolates). Viral titers are determined based on a simple visual readout. The protocol exhibits high precision, with coefficients of variation for interassay variability ranging between 0.05 and 0.21 and those for intraassay variability between 0.08 and 0.23. All reagents required for the test, including primary and secondary antibodies, are commercially available, facilitating the establishment of the protocol in other laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denise Siegrist
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, 3700, Spiez, Switzerland.
| | - Roland Züst
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, 3700, Spiez, Switzerland.
| | - Johanna Signer
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, 3700, Spiez, Switzerland.
| | - Nicole Lenz
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, 3700, Spiez, Switzerland.
| | - Olivier Engler
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, 3700, Spiez, Switzerland.
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Caì Y, Iwasaki M, Beitzel BF, Yú S, Postnikova EN, Cubitt B, DeWald LE, Radoshitzky SR, Bollinger L, Jahrling PB, Palacios GF, de la Torre JC, Kuhn JH. Recombinant Lassa Virus Expressing Green Fluorescent Protein as a Tool for High-Throughput Drug Screens and Neutralizing Antibody Assays. Viruses 2018; 10:v10110655. [PMID: 30463334 PMCID: PMC6266387 DOI: 10.3390/v10110655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), a mammarenavirus, infects an estimated 100,000–300,000 individuals yearly in western Africa and frequently causes lethal disease. Currently, no LASV-specific antivirals or vaccines are commercially available for prevention or treatment of Lassa fever, the disease caused by LASV. The development of medical countermeasure screening platforms is a crucial step to yield licensable products. Using reverse genetics, we generated a recombinant wild-type LASV (rLASV-WT) and a modified version thereof encoding a cleavable green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter for rapid and quantitative detection of infection (rLASV-GFP). Both rLASV-WT and wild-type LASV exhibited similar growth kinetics in cultured cells, whereas growth of rLASV-GFP was slightly impaired. GFP reporter expression by rLASV-GFP remained stable over several serial passages in Vero cells. Using two well-characterized broad-spectrum antivirals known to inhibit LASV infection, favipiravir and ribavirin, we demonstrate that rLASV-GFP is a suitable screening tool for the identification of LASV infection inhibitors. Building on these findings, we established a rLASV-GFP-based high-throughput drug discovery screen and an rLASV-GFP-based antibody neutralization assay. Both platforms, now available as a standard tool at the IRF-Frederick (an international resource), will accelerate anti-LASV medical countermeasure discovery and reduce costs of antiviral screens in maximum containment laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yíngyún Caì
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Masaharu Iwasaki
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Brett F Beitzel
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Shuīqìng Yú
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Elena N Postnikova
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Beatrice Cubitt
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Lisa Evans DeWald
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Sheli R Radoshitzky
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Laura Bollinger
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Peter B Jahrling
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Gustavo F Palacios
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Juan C de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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135
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Gale TV, Horton TM, Hoffmann AR, Branco LM, Garry RF. Host Proteins Identified in Extracellular Viral Particles as Targets for Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Inhibitors. J Proteome Res 2018; 18:7-17. [PMID: 30351952 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) proteomic analyses have revealed that host proteins are often captured in extracellular virions. These proteins may play a role in viral replication or infectivity and can represent targets for broad-spectrum antiviral agent development. We utilized LCMS to determine the host protein composition of Lassa virus-like particles (LASV VLPs). Multiple host proteins incorporated in LASV VLPs are also incorporated in unrelated viruses, notably ribosomal proteins. We assembled a data set of host proteins incorporated into extracellular viral particles. The frequent incorporation of specific host proteins into viruses of diverse families suggests that interactions of these proteins with viral factors may be important for effective viral replication. Drugs that target virion-associated host proteins could affect the protein in the extracellular virion or the host cell. Compounds that target proteins incorporated into virions with high frequency, but with no known antiviral activity, were assayed in a scalable viral screening platform, and hits were tested in competent viral systems. One of these molecules, GAPDH modulating small molecule CGP 3466B maleate (Omigapil), exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of HIV, dengue virus, and Zika virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor V Gale
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Tulane University , New Orleans , Louisiana 70112 , United States
| | - Timothy M Horton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Tulane University , New Orleans , Louisiana 70112 , United States
| | - Andrew R Hoffmann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Tulane University , New Orleans , Louisiana 70112 , United States
| | - Luis M Branco
- Zalgen Laboratories, LLC , Germantown , Maryland 20876 , United States
| | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Tulane University , New Orleans , Louisiana 70112 , United States.,Zalgen Laboratories, LLC , Germantown , Maryland 20876 , United States
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136
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Cashman KA, Wilkinson ER, Zeng X, Cardile AP, Facemire PR, Bell TM, Bearss JJ, Shaia CI, Schmaljohn CS. Immune-Mediated Systemic Vasculitis as the Proposed Cause of Sudden-Onset Sensorineural Hearing Loss following Lassa Virus Exposure in Cynomolgus Macaques. mBio 2018; 9:e01896-18. [PMID: 30377282 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01896-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) causes a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic disease in regions in Africa where the disease is endemic, and approximately 30% of patients develop sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss after recovering from acute disease. The causal mechanism of hearing loss in LASV-infected patients remains elusive. Here, we report findings after closely examining the chronic disease experienced by surviving macaques assigned to LASV exposure control groups in two different studies. All nonhuman primates (NHPs) developed typical signs and symptoms of Lassa fever, and seven succumbed during the acute phase of disease. Three NHPs survived beyond the acute phase and became chronically ill but survived to the study endpoint, 45 days postexposure. All three of these survivors displayed continuous disease symptoms, and apparent hearing loss was observed using daily subjective measurements, including response to auditory stimulation and tuning fork tests. Objective measurements of profound unilateral or bilateral sensorineural hearing loss were confirmed for two of the survivors by brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) analysis. Histologic examination of inner ear structures and other tissues revealed the presence of severe vascular lesions consistent with systemic vasculitides. These systemic immune-mediated vascular disorders have been associated with sudden hearing loss. Other vascular-specific damage was also observed to be present in many of the sampled tissues, and we were able to identify persistent virus in the perivascular tissues in the brain tissue of survivors. Serological analyses of two of the three survivors revealed the presence of autoimmune disease markers. Our findings point toward an immune-mediated etiology for Lassa fever-associated sudden-onset hearing loss and lay the foundation for developing potential therapies to prevent and/or cure Lassa fever-associated sudden-onset hearing loss.IMPORTANCE Lassa virus is one of the most common causes of viral hemorrhagic fever. A frequent, but as yet unexplained, consequence of infection with Lassa virus is acute, sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss in one or both ears. Deafness is observed in approximately 30% of surviving Lassa fever patients, an attack rate that is approximately 300% higher than mumps virus infection, which was previously thought to be the most common cause of virus-induced deafness. Here, we provide evidence from Lassa virus-infected cynomolgus macaques implicating an immune-mediated vasculitis syndrome underlying the pathology of Lassa fever-associated deafness. These findings could change the way human Lassa fever patients are medically managed in order to prevent deafness by including diagnostic monitoring of human survivors for onset of vasculitides via available imaging methods and/or other diagnostic markers of immune-mediated vascular disease.
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137
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Tang K, He S, Zhang X, Guo J, Chen Q, Yan F, Banadyga L, Zhu W, Qiu X, Guo Y. Tangeretin, an extract from Citrus peels, blocks cellular entry of arenaviruses that cause viral hemorrhagic fever. Antiviral Res 2018; 160:87-93. [PMID: 30339847 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The family Arenaviridae consists of numerous enveloped RNA viruses with ambisense coding strategies. Eight arenaviruses, including Lassa virus, are known to cause severe and fatal viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) in humans, yet vaccines and treatments for disease caused by arenaviruses are very limited. In this study, we screened a natural product library consisting of 131 compounds and identified tangeretin, a polymethoxylated flavone widely present in citrus fruit peels, as a Lassa virus entry inhibitor that blocks viral fusion. Further analyses demonstrated the efficacy of tangeretin against seven other VHF-causing arenaviruses, suggesting that this compound, which has a history of medical usage, could be used to develop an effective therapeutic to treat infection and disease caused by Lassa virus and related viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Shihua He
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jiamei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Qing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Feihu Yan
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0J9, Canada; Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Institute of Military Veterinary, Academy of Military Medical Science, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - Logan Banadyga
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Xiangguo Qiu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - Ying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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138
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Mehand MS, Millett P, Al-Shorbaji F, Roth C, Kieny MP, Murgue B. World Health Organization Methodology to Prioritize Emerging Infectious Diseases in Need of Research and Development. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 24:e171427. [PMID: 30124424 PMCID: PMC6106429 DOI: 10.3201/eid2409.171427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization R&D Blueprint aims to accelerate the availability of medical technologies during epidemics by focusing on a list of prioritized emerging diseases for which medical countermeasures are insufficient or nonexistent. The prioritization process has 3 components: a Delphi process to narrow down a list of potential priority diseases, a multicriteria decision analysis to rank the short list of diseases, and a final Delphi round to arrive at a final list of 10 diseases. A group of international experts applied this process in January 2017, resulting in a list of 10 priority diseases. The robustness of the list was tested by performing a sensitivity analysis. The new process corrected major shortcomings in the pre-R&D Blueprint approach to disease prioritization and increased confidence in the results.
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139
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Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a rodent-borne arenavirus endemic to several West African countries that causes Lassa fever (LF). LF is typically mild but it can cause severe disease characterized by hemorrhagic fever and multi-organ failure. A current outbreak of LASV in Nigeria has seen greater than 300 cases with a case fatality rate of 22%. Currently, there are limited treatment options and no vaccine candidates are approved to prevent LASV infection. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has identified LASV as an emerging pathogen of high consequence and this has resulted in a push for several preclinical vaccine candidates to be advanced toward clinical trials. Here, we discuss several important aspects of LASV infection including immunobiology, immune evasion, and correlates of protection against LF, which have been identified through animal models and human infections. In addition, we discuss several vaccine candidates that have shown efficacy in animal models that could be advanced toward clinical trials. The increased fatality rate seen in the recent LASV outbreak in Nigeria highlights the importance of developing effective treatment and prevention strategies against LF. The spike in LASV cases seen in West Africa has the potential for increased mortality and human-to-human transmission, making the development and testing of effective vaccines for LASV critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce M Warner
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - David Safronetz
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada,
| | - Derek R Stein
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada,
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140
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Brouillette RB, Phillips EK, Patel R, Mahauad-Fernandez W, Moller-Tank S, Rogers KJ, Dillard JA, Cooney AL, Martinez-Sobrido L, Okeoma C, Maury W. TIM-1 Mediates Dystroglycan-Independent Entry of Lassa Virus. J Virol 2018; 92:e00093-18. [PMID: 29875238 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00093-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is an Old World arenavirus responsible for hundreds of thousands of infections in West Africa every year. LASV entry into a variety of cell types is mediated by interactions with glycosyltransferase LARGE-modified O-linked glycans present on the ubiquitous receptor α-dystroglycan (αDG). However, cells lacking αDG are permissive to LASV infection, suggesting that alternative receptors exist. Previous studies demonstrated that the phosphatidylserine (PtdSer)-binding receptors Axl and Tyro3 along with C-type lectin receptors mediate αDG-independent entry. Here, we demonstrate that another PtdSer receptor, TIM-1, mediates LASV glycoprotein (GP)-pseudotyped virion entry into αDG-knocked-out HEK 293T and wild-type (WT) Vero cells, which express αDG lacking appropriate glycosylation. To investigate the mechanism by which TIM-1 mediates enhancement of entry, we demonstrate that mutagenesis of the TIM-1 IgV domain PtdSer-binding pocket abrogated transduction. Furthermore, the human TIM-1 IgV domain-binding monoclonal antibody ARD5 blocked transduction of pseudovirions bearing LASV GP in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, as we showed previously for other viruses that use TIM-1 for entry, a chimeric TIM-1 protein that substitutes the proline-rich region (PRR) from murine leukemia virus envelope (Env) for the mucin-like domain served as a competent receptor. These studies provide evidence that, in the absence of a functional αDG, TIM-1 mediates the entry of LASV pseudoviral particles through interactions of virions with the IgV PtdSer-binding pocket of TIM-1.IMPORTANCE PtdSer receptors, such as TIM-1, are emerging as critical entry factors for many enveloped viruses. Most recently, hepatitis C virus and Zika virus have been added to a growing list. PtdSer receptors engage with enveloped viruses through the binding of PtdSer embedded in the viral envelope, defining them as GP-independent receptors. This GP-independent entry mechanism should effectively mediate the entry of all enveloped viruses, yet LASV GP-pseudotyped viruses were previously found to be unresponsive to PtdSer receptor enhancement in HEK 293T cells. Here, we demonstrate that LASV pseudovirions can utilize the PtdSer receptor TIM-1 but only in the absence of appropriately glycosylated α-dystroglycan (αDG), the high-affinity cell surface receptor for LASV. Our studies shed light on LASV receptor utilization and explain why previous studies performed with α-DG-expressing cells did not find that LASV pseudovirions utilize PtdSer receptors for virus uptake.
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141
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Welch SR, Scholte FEM, Albariño CG, Kainulainen MH, Coleman-McCray JD, Guerrero LW, Chakrabarti AK, Klena JD, Nichol ST, Spengler JR, Spiropoulou CF. The S Genome Segment Is Sufficient to Maintain Pathogenicity in Intra-Clade Lassa Virus Reassortants in a Guinea Pig Model. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:240. [PMID: 30050872 PMCID: PMC6050391 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome reassortment in Lassa virus (LASV) has been reported in nature, but phenotypic consequences of this phenomenon are not well described. Here we characterize, both in vitro and in vivo, reassortment between 2 LASV strains: the prototypic 1976 Josiah strain and a more recently isolated 2015 Liberian strain. In vitro analysis showed that although cis- and trans-acting elements of viral RNA synthesis were compatible between strains, reassortants demonstrated different levels of viral replication. These differences were also apparent in vivo, as reassortants varied in pathogenicity in the guinea pig model of LASV infection. The reassortant variant containing the Josiah S segment retained the virulence of the parental Josiah strain, but the reassortant variant containing the S segment of the Liberian isolate was highly attenuated compared to both parental strains. Contrary to observations in reassortants between LASV and other arenavirus species, which suggest that L segment-encoded factors are responsible for virulence, these studies highlight a role for S segment-encoded virulence factors in disease, and also suggest that inefficient interactions between proteins of heterologous strains may limit the prevalence of reassortant LASV variants in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Welch
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Florine E M Scholte
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - César G Albariño
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Markus H Kainulainen
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - JoAnn D Coleman-McCray
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Lisa Wiggleton Guerrero
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ayan K Chakrabarti
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - John D Klena
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Stuart T Nichol
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jessica R Spengler
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Christina F Spiropoulou
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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142
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Watanabe Y, Raghwani J, Allen JD, Seabright GE, Li S, Moser F, Huiskonen JT, Strecker T, Bowden TA, Crispin M. Structure of the Lassa virus glycan shield provides a model for immunological resistance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:7320-7325. [PMID: 29941589 PMCID: PMC6048489 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1803990115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus is an Old World arenavirus endemic to West Africa that causes severe hemorrhagic fever. Vaccine development has focused on the envelope glycoprotein complex (GPC) that extends from the virion envelope. The often inadequate antibody immune response elicited by both vaccine and natural infection has been, in part, attributed to the abundance of N-linked glycosylation on the GPC. Here, using a virus-like-particle system that presents Lassa virus GPC in a native-like context, we determine the composite population of each of the N-linked glycosylation sites presented on the trimeric GPC spike. Our analysis reveals the presence of underprocessed oligomannose-type glycans, which form punctuated clusters that obscure the proteinous surface of both the GP1 attachment and GP2 fusion glycoprotein subunits of the Lassa virus GPC. These oligomannose clusters are seemingly derived as a result of sterically reduced accessibility to glycan processing enzymes, and limited amino acid diversification around these sites supports their role protecting against the humoral immune response. Combined, our data provide a structure-based blueprint for understanding how glycans render the glycoprotein spikes of Lassa virus and other Old World arenaviruses immunologically resistant targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Watanabe
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jayna Raghwani
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7LF Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joel D Allen
- Centre for Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma E Seabright
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sai Li
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Felipe Moser
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Juha T Huiskonen
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science and Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Thomas Strecker
- Institute of Virology, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas A Bowden
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom;
| | - Max Crispin
- Centre for Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom;
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143
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Okokhere PO, Erameh CO, Alikah F, Akhideno PE, Iruolagbe CO, Osazuwa OO, Bankole IA, Adomeh DI, Odia I, Aire CO, Oyakhilome J, Agbukor J, Atafo RO, Asogun DA, Happi CT, Sabeti PC, Günther S, Akpede GO. Acute Lassa Virus Encephalitis with Lassa Virus in the Cerebrospinal Fluid but Absent in the Blood: A Case Report with a Positive Outcome. Case Rep Neurol 2018; 10:150-158. [PMID: 30057542 PMCID: PMC6062684 DOI: 10.1159/000490374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is rare both to have the central nervous system (CNS) as the main focus in the acute phase of Lassa fever infection without associated bleeding, and to find Lassa virus (LAV) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but not in the serum. We report the case of a 38-year-old Nigerian woman with mainly CNS manifestation of Lassa fever. She was admitted twice within 11 days because of persistent fever. A clinical diagnosis of acute LAV encephalitis was made because of a high index of suspicion and CNS involvement confirmed by positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for LAV in the CSF, while her blood was repeatedly negative for LAV by RT-PCR test. She recovered fully following supportive care coupled with treatment with an 18-day course of ribavirin, and suffered no long-term neurological complication or relapse. Post-treatment CSF examination by RT-PCR did not detect LAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter O Okokhere
- Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria.,Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria.,Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | - Cyril O Erameh
- Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Francis Alikah
- Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Peter E Akhideno
- Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | | | - Omoregie O Osazuwa
- Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Idowu A Bankole
- Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Donatus I Adomeh
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Ikponmwosa Odia
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Chris O Aire
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Jennifer Oyakhilome
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Jacqueline Agbukor
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Rebecca O Atafo
- Lassa Fever Ward, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Danny A Asogun
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | | | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephan Günther
- Bernhard-Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Harmburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - George O Akpede
- Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.,Department of Paediatrics, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
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144
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Mendoza EJ, Warner B, Kobinger G, Ogden NH, Safronetz D. Baited vaccines: A strategy to mitigate rodent-borne viral zoonoses in humans. Zoonoses Public Health 2018; 65:711-727. [PMID: 29931738 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Rodents serve as the natural reservoir and vector for a variety of pathogens, some of which are responsible for severe and life-threatening disease in humans. Despite the significant impact in humans many of these viruses, including Old and New World hantaviruses as well as Arenaviruses, most have no specific vaccine or therapeutic to treat or prevent human infection. The recent success of wildlife vaccines to mitigate rabies in animal populations offers interesting insight into the use of similar strategies for other zoonotic agents of human disease. In this review, we discuss the notion of using baited vaccines as a means to interrupt the transmission of viral pathogens between rodent reservoirs and to susceptible human hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emelissa J Mendoza
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Bryce Warner
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Gary Kobinger
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nicholas H Ogden
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Safronetz
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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145
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Shao J, Huang Q, Liu X, Di D, Liang Y, Ly H. Arenaviral Nucleoproteins Suppress PACT-Induced Augmentation of RIG-I Function To Inhibit Type I Interferon Production. J Virol 2018; 92:e00482-18. [PMID: 29669840 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00482-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
RIG-I is a major cytoplasmic sensor of viral pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) RNA and induces type I interferon (IFN) production upon viral infection. A double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding protein, PACT, plays an important role in potentiating RIG-I function. We have shown previously that arenaviral nucleoproteins (NPs) suppress type I IFN production via their RNase activity to degrade PAMP RNA. We report here that NPs of arenaviruses block the PACT-induced enhancement of RIG-I function to mediate type I IFN production and that this inhibition is dependent on the RNase function of NPs, which is different from that of a known mechanism of other viral proteins to abolish the interaction between PACT and RIG-I. To understand the biological roles of PACT and RIG-I in authentic arenavirus infection, we analyze growth kinetics of recombinant Pichinde virus (PICV), a prototypical arenavirus, in RIG-I knockout (KO) and PACT KO mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. Wild-type (WT) PICV grew at higher titers in both KO MEF lines than in normal MEFs, suggesting the important roles of these cellular proteins in restricting virus replication. PICV carrying the NP RNase catalytically inactive mutation could not grow in normal MEFs but could replicate to some extent in both KO MEF lines. The level of virus growth was inversely correlated with the amount of type I IFNs produced. These results suggest that PACT plays an important role in potentiating RIG-I function to produce type I IFNs in order to restrict arenavirus replication and that viral NP RNase activity is essential for optimal viral replication by suppressing PACT-induced RIG-I activation.IMPORTANCE We report here a new role of the nucleoproteins of arenaviruses that can block type I IFN production via their specific inhibition of the cellular protein sensors of virus infection (RIG-I and PACT). Our results suggest that PACT plays an important role in potentiating RIG-I function to produce type I IFNs in order to restrict arenavirus replication. This new knowledge can be exploited for the development of novel antiviral treatments and/or vaccines against some arenaviruses that can cause severe and lethal hemorrhagic fever diseases in humans.
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146
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Huang Q, Shao J, Liang Y, Ly H. Assays to Demonstrate the Roles of Arenaviral Nucleoproteins (NPs) in Viral RNA Synthesis and in Suppressing Type I Interferon. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1604:189-200. [PMID: 28986834 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6981-4_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Arenaviruses, such as Lassa virus (LASV) and Pichindé virus (PICV), are enveloped viruses with a bi-segmented ambisense RNA genome. The large (L) genomic segment encodes the Z matrix protein and the L RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, whereas the small (S) genomic segment encodes the nucleoprotein (NP) and the glycoprotein (GPC). The NP encapsidates viral genome, is required for viral transcription and replication, and acts as a type I interferon (IFN) antagonist. This article describes assays to demonstrate that NP contains 3'-5' exoribonuclease (RNase) activity to degrade modeled RNA of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern type and suppresses the IFNβ promoter-driven luciferase reporter gene. The minigenomic (MG) assay is used to assess the role of NP in replicating and transcribing a viral promoter-driven luciferase reporter gene. These powerful assays demonstrate the versatility of NP in mediating viral replication as well as in modulating host innate immune responses.
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147
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Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a persistent global health threat that causes about half a million cases of Lassa fever each year in Western Africa. Although most cases are mild, the disease can cause significant morbidity and results in as many as 5,000 deaths per year. Since 2015, Nigeria has been experiencing a severe and extended outbreak of Lassa fever, raising concerns that it could spill over into other countries and reach a magnitude similar to the West African Ebola outbreak of 2013-2016. Despite the burden that Lassa fever places on public health, both in Africa and around the world, there are still no clinically-approved therapeutics or vaccines to treat or prevent it. Nevertheless, a number of promising candidate vaccines have been developed over the last several years, and there is a growing political and social determination to drive at least one of these candidates towards licensure. This paper describes a LASV vaccine candidate that is being developed at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory. Based on the same live attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vaccine platform that was used to produce the successful Ebola virus vaccine, the VSV-based LASV vaccine has been shown to elicit a potent and protective immune response against LASV. The vaccine shows 100% protection in the "gold-standard" nonhuman primate model of Lassa fever, inducing both humoral and cellular immune responses. Moreover, studies have shown that a single vaccination may offer universal protection against numerous different strains of the virus, and additional studies have shown that immunization with the VSV platform appears to be unaffected by pre-existing immunity to VSV. The next step in the development of the VSV-based LASV vaccine is phase I human clinical trials to assess vaccine safety and dosage.
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148
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Mariën J, Kourouma F, Magassouba N, Leirs H, Fichet-Calvet E. Movement Patterns of Small Rodents in Lassa Fever-Endemic Villages in Guinea. Ecohealth 2018; 15:348-359. [PMID: 29572697 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-018-1331-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is the reservoir host of Lassa arenavirus, the etiological agent of Lassa fever in humans. Because there exists no vaccine for human use, rodent control and adjusting human behavior are currently considered to be the only options for Lassa fever control. In order to develop efficient rodent control programs, more information about the host's ecology is needed. In this study, we investigated the spatial behavior of M. natalensis and other small rodents in two capture-mark-recapture and four dyed bait (Rhodamine B) experiments in Lassa fever-endemic villages in Upper Guinea. During the capture-mark-recapture studies, 23% of the recaptured M. natalensis moved between the houses and proximate fields. While M. natalensis was found over the entire study grid (2 ha), other rodent species (Praomys daltoni, Praomys rostratus, Lemniscomys striatus, Mus spp.) were mostly trapped in the surrounding fields. Distances between recapture occasions never exceeded 100 m for all rodent species. During the dyed bait experiments, 11% of M. natalensis and 41% of P. daltoni moved from the fields to houses. We conclude that commensal M. natalensis easily moves between houses and proximate fields in Guinea. We therefore consider occasional domestic rodent elimination to be an unsustainable approach to reduce Lassa virus transmission risk to humans, as M. natalensis is likely to reinvade houses quickly from fields in which rodents are not controlled. A combination of permanent rodent elimination with other control strategies (e.g., make houses rodent proof or attract predators) could be more effective for Lassa fever control, but must be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Mariën
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Fodé Kourouma
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques, Nongo, Conakry, Guinea
| | | | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
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149
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Fedeli C, Torriani G, Galan-Navarro C, Moraz ML, Moreno H, Gerold G, Kunz S. Axl Can Serve as Entry Factor for Lassa Virus Depending on the Functional Glycosylation of Dystroglycan. J Virol 2018; 92:e01613-17. [PMID: 29237830 PMCID: PMC5809728 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01613-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatal infection with the highly pathogenic Lassa virus (LASV) is characterized by extensive viral dissemination, indicating broad tissue tropism. The major cellular receptor for LASV is the highly conserved extracellular matrix receptor dystroglycan (DG). Binding of LASV depends on DG's tissue-specific posttranslational modification with the unusual O-linked polysaccharide matriglycan. Interestingly, functional glycosylation of DG does not always correlate with viral tropism observed in vivo The broadly expressed phosphatidylserine (PS) receptors Axl and Tyro3 were recently identified as alternative LASV receptor candidates. However, their role in LASV entry is not entirely understood. Here, we examine LASV receptor candidates in primary human cells and found coexpression of Axl with differentially glycosylated DG. To study LASV receptor use in the context of productive arenavirus infection, we employed recombinant lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus expressing LASV glycoprotein (rLCMV-LASV GP) as a validated biosafety level 2 (BSL2) model. We confirm and extend previous work showing that Axl can contribute to LASV entry in the absence of functional DG using "apoptotic mimicry" in a way similar to that of other enveloped viruses. We further show that Axl-dependent LASV entry requires receptor activation and involves a pathway resembling macropinocytosis. Axl-mediated LASV entry is facilitated by heparan sulfate and critically depends on the late endosomal protein LAMP-1 as an intracellular entry factor. In endothelial cells expressing low levels of functional DG, both receptors are engaged by the virus and can contribute to productive entry. In sum, we characterize the role of Axl in LASV entry and provide a rationale for targeting Axl in antiviral therapy.IMPORTANCE The highly pathogenic arenavirus Lassa virus (LASV) represents a serious public health problem in Africa. Although the principal LASV receptor, dystroglycan (DG), is ubiquitously expressed, virus binding critically depends on DG's posttranslational modification, which does not always correlate with tissue tropism. The broadly expressed phosphatidylserine receptor Axl was recently identified as an alternative LASV receptor candidate, but its role in LASV entry is unclear. Here, we investigate the exact role of Axl in LASV entry as a function of DG's posttranslational modification. We found that in the absence of functional DG, Axl can mediate LASV entry via apoptotic mimicry. Productive entry requires virus-induced receptor activation, involves macropinocytosis, and critically depends on LAMP-1. In endothelial cells that express low levels of glycosylated DG, both receptors can promote LASV entry. In sum, our study defines the roles of Axl in LASV entry and provides a rationale for targeting Axl in antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Fedeli
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Torriani
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Clara Galan-Navarro
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Lymphatic and Cancer Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Féderale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Hector Moreno
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gisa Gerold
- TWINCORE, Center for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Institute for Experimental Virology, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Kunz
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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150
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Zaza AD, Herbreteau CH, Peyrefitte CN, Emonet SF. Mammarenaviruses deleted from their Z gene are replicative and produce an infectious progeny in BHK-21 cells. Virology 2018; 518:34-44. [PMID: 29453057 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Mammarenaviruses bud out of infected cells via the recruitment of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport through late domain motifs localized into their Z protein. Here, we demonstrated that mammarenaviruses lacking this protein can be rescued and are replicative, despite a 3-log reduction in virion production, in BHK-21 cells, but not in five other cell lines. Mutations of putative late domain motifs identified into the viral nucleoprotein resulted in the almost complete abolition of infectious virion production by Z-deleted mammarenaviruses. This result strongly suggested that the nucleoprotein may compensate for the deletion of Z. These observations were primarily obtained using the Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and further confirmed using the Old World Lassa and New World Machupo viruses, responsible of human hemorrhagic fevers. Z-deleted viruses should prove very useful tools to investigate the biology of Mammarenaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie D Zaza
- Fab'entech, 24 rue Jean Baldassini, 69007 Lyon, France; Unité de virologie, Département de Biologie des Agents Transmissibles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 1 place général Valérie André, BP 73 91 223 Brétigny-sur-Orge cedex, France.
| | | | - Christophe N Peyrefitte
- Unité de virologie, Département de Biologie des Agents Transmissibles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 1 place général Valérie André, BP 73 91 223 Brétigny-sur-Orge cedex, France.
| | - Sébastien F Emonet
- Unité de virologie, Département de Biologie des Agents Transmissibles, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 1 place général Valérie André, BP 73 91 223 Brétigny-sur-Orge cedex, France.
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