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Hartnett JN, Boisen ML, Oottamasathien D, Jones AB, Millett MM, Nelson DS, Muncy IJ, Goba A, Momoh M, Fullah M, Mire CE, Geisbert JB, Geisbert TW, Holton DL, Rouelle JA, Kannadka CB, Reyna AA, Moses LM, Khan SH, Gevao SM, Grant DS, Robinson JE, Happi C, Pitts KR, Garry RF, Branco LM. Current and emerging strategies for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of Lassa fever. Future Virol 2015. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.15.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Lassa fever (LF) is a potentially fatal disease that affects an estimated 300,000–500,000 people in endemic areas of west Africa each year. Though past studies have identified fatality rates of 5–20% in patients suspected to have contracted Lassa virus (LASV), new studies using more precise clinical diagnoses and modern diagnostic assays show fatalities rates above 60% in acutely ill patients from endemic regions. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics, and only one Comformité Européenne (CE) marked rapid immunodiagnostic for acute LASV infection. Therefore, preventing LASV transmission is the primary goal in endemic regions. Development of rapid immunodiagnostics and research into the efficacy of current treatment options continues toward saving lives in west Africa as well as creating a line of defense against the nefarious use of LASV in bioterrorism settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N Hartnett
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Matthew L Boisen
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Corgenix Medical Corporation, Broomfield, CO 80020, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ivana J Muncy
- Corgenix Medical Corporation, Broomfield, CO 80020, USA
| | | | - Mambu Momoh
- Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Eastern Polytechnic College, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Chad E Mire
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Debra L Holton
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Julie A Rouelle
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Chandrika B Kannadka
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Ashley A Reyna
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Lina M Moses
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | | | - Sahr M Gevao
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Donald S Grant
- Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - James E Robinson
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | | | - Kelly R Pitts
- Corgenix Medical Corporation, Broomfield, CO 80020, USA
| | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Zalgen Labs, LLC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA
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Branco LM, Boisen ML, Andersen KG, Grove JN, Moses LM, Muncy IJ, Henderson LA, Schieffellin JS, Robinson JE, Bangura JJ, Grant DS, Raabe VN, Fonnie M, Sabeti PC, Garry RF. Lassa hemorrhagic fever in a late term pregnancy from northern Sierra Leone with a positive maternal outcome: case report. Virol J 2011; 8:404. [PMID: 21843352 PMCID: PMC3177908 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-8-404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2011] [Accepted: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a devastating viral disease prevalent in West Africa. Efforts to take on this public health crisis have been hindered by lack of infrastructure and rapid field deployable diagnosis in areas where the disease is prevalent. Recent capacity building at the Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Ward (KGH LFW) in Sierra Leone has lead to a major turning point in the diagnosis, treatment and study of LF. Herein we present the first comprehensive rapid diagnosis and real time characterization of an acute hemorrhagic LF case at KGH LFW. This case report focuses on a third trimester pregnant Sierra Leonean woman from the historically non-endemic Northern district of Tonkolili who survived the illness despite fetal demise. Employed in this study were newly developed recombinant LASV Antigen Rapid Test cassettes and dipstick lateral flow immunoassays (LFI) that enabled the diagnosis of LF within twenty minutes of sample collection. Deregulation of overall homeostasis, significant hepatic and renal system involvement, and immunity profiles were extensively characterized during the course of hospitalization. Rapid diagnosis, prompt treatment with a full course of intravenous (IV) ribavirin, IV fluids management, and real time monitoring of clinical parameters resulted in a positive maternal outcome despite admission to the LFW seven days post onset of symptoms, fetal demise, and a natural still birth delivery. These studies solidify the growing rapid diagnostic, treatment, and surveillance capabilities at the KGH LF Laboratory, and the potential to significantly improve the current high mortality rate caused by LF. As a result of the growing capacity, we were also able to isolate Lassa virus (LASV) RNA from the patient and perform Sanger sequencing where we found significant genetic divergence from commonly circulating Sierra Leonean strains, showing potential for the discovery of a newly emerged LASV strain with expanded geographic distribution. Furthermore, recent emergence of LF cases in Northern Sierra Leone highlights the need for superior diagnostics to aid in the monitoring of LASV strain divergence with potentially increased geographic expansion.
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MESH Headings
- Antibodies, Viral/analysis
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antigens, Viral/analysis
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- Case-Control Studies
- Cytokines/analysis
- Cytokines/biosynthesis
- Female
- Fetal Death
- Genetic Variation
- Humans
- Immunoassay
- Injections, Intravenous
- Lassa Fever/diagnosis
- Lassa Fever/drug therapy
- Lassa Fever/epidemiology
- Lassa Fever/immunology
- Lassa Fever/virology
- Lassa virus/genetics
- Lassa virus/immunology
- Lassa virus/isolation & purification
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/diagnosis
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/drug therapy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/immunology
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/mortality
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology
- Pregnancy Trimester, Third
- Public Health
- RNA, Viral/analysis
- Ribavirin/administration & dosage
- Ribavirin/therapeutic use
- Sierra Leone/epidemiology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Branco
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Autoimmune Technologies, LLC, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Matt L Boisen
- Corgenix Medical Corporation, Broomfield, Colorado, USA
| | - Kristian G Andersen
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica N Grove
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Lina M Moses
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Ivana J Muncy
- Corgenix Medical Corporation, Broomfield, Colorado, USA
| | | | - John S Schieffellin
- Department of Paediatrics, Section of Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - James E Robinson
- Department of Paediatrics, Section of Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - James J Bangura
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation Workplace Health, Republic of Sierra Leone, Freetwon, Sierra Leone
- The Global Viral Forecasting Initiative, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Donald S Grant
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation Workplace Health, Republic of Sierra Leone, Freetwon, Sierra Leone
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Ward, Kenema, Republic of Sierra Leone
| | - Vanessa N Raabe
- University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mbalu Fonnie
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Ward, Kenema, Republic of Sierra Leone
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Grove JN, Branco LM, Boisen ML, Muncy IJ, Henderson LA, Schieffellin JS, Robinson JE, Bangura JJ, Fonnie M, Schoepp RJ, Hensley LE, Seisay A, Fair JN, Garry RF. Capacity building permitting comprehensive monitoring of a severe case of Lassa hemorrhagic fever in Sierra Leone with a positive outcome: case report. Virol J 2011; 8:314. [PMID: 21689444 PMCID: PMC3283910 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-8-314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2011] [Accepted: 06/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever is a neglected tropical disease with a significant impact on the health care system of endemic West African nations. To date, case reports of Lassa fever have focused on laboratory characterisation of serological, biochemical and molecular aspects of the disease imported by infected individuals from Western Africa to the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Israel. Our report presents the first comprehensive real time diagnosis and characterization of a severe, hemorrhagic Lassa fever case in a Sierra Leonean individual admitted to the Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Ward. Fever, malaise, unresponsiveness to anti-malarial and antibiotic drugs, followed by worsening symptoms and onset of haemorrhaging prompted medical officials to suspect Lassa fever. A recombinant Lassa virus protein based diagnostic was employed in diagnosing Lassa fever upon admission. This patient experienced a severe case of Lassa hemorrhagic fever with dysregulation of overall homeostasis, significant liver and renal system involvement, the interplay of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during the course of hospitalization and an eventual successful outcome. These studies provide new insights into the pathophysiology and management of this viral illness and outline the improved infrastructure, research and real-time diagnostic capabilities within LASV endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N Grove
- Tulane University Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Luis M Branco
- Tulane University Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Autoimmune Technologies, LLC, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | | | | | - John S Schieffellin
- Tulane University Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Disease, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - James E Robinson
- Tulane University Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Disease, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - James J Bangura
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation Workplace Health, Sierra Leone
- The Global Viral Forecasting Initiative, San Francisco, CA
| | - Mbalu Fonnie
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Ward, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Randal J Schoepp
- Applied Diagnostics Branch, Diagnostic Systems Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Lisa E Hensley
- Viral Therapeutics Branch, Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Systems Division, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Alhassan Seisay
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation Workplace Health, Sierra Leone
| | - Joseph N Fair
- The Global Viral Forecasting Initiative, San Francisco, CA
| | - Robert F Garry
- Tulane University Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Illick MM, Branco LM, Fair JN, Illick KA, Matschiner A, Schoepp R, Garry RF, Guttieri MC. Uncoupling GP1 and GP2 expression in the Lassa virus glycoprotein complex: implications for GP1 ectodomain shedding. Virol J 2008; 5:161. [PMID: 19105844 PMCID: PMC2645378 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-5-161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2008] [Accepted: 12/23/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sera from convalescent Lassa fever patients often contains antibodies to Lassa virus (LASV) glycoprotein 1 (GP1), and glycoprotein 2 (GP2); Immunization of non-human primates with viral vectors expressing the arenaviral glycoprotein complex (GPC) confers full protective immunity against a lethal challenge with LASV. Thus, the development of native or quasi native recombinant LASV GP1 and GP2 as soluble, uncoupled proteins will improve current diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of Lassa fever. To this end, mammalian expression systems were engineered for production and purification of secreted forms of soluble LASV GP1 and GP2 proteins. RESULTS Determinants for mammalian cell expression of secreted uncoupled Lassa virus (LASV) glycoprotein 1 (GP1) and glycoprotein 2 (GP2) were established. Soluble GP1 was generated using either the native glycoprotein precursor (GPC) signal peptide (SP) or human IgG signal sequences (s.s.). GP2 was secreted from cells only when (1) the transmembrane (TM) domain was deleted, the intracellular domain (IC) was fused to the ectodomain, and the gene was co-expressed with a complete GP1 gene in cis; (2) the TM and IC domains were deleted and GP1 was co-expressed in cis; (3) expression of GP1 was driven by the native GPC SP. These data implicate GP1 as a chaperone for processing and shuttling GP2 to the cell surface. The soluble forms of GP1 and GP2 generated through these studies were secreted as homogeneously glycosylated proteins that contained high mannose glycans. Furthermore, observation of GP1 ectodomain shedding from cells expressing wild type LASV GPC represents a novel aspect of arenaviral glycoprotein expression. CONCLUSION These results implicate GP1 as a chaperone for the correct processing and shuttling of GP2 to the cell surface, and suggest that native GPC SP plays a role in this process. In the absence of GP1 and GPC SP the GP2 protein may be processed by an alternate pathway that produces heterogeneously glycosylated protein, or the polypeptide may not fully mature in the secretory cascade in mammalian cells. The expression constructs developed in these studies resulted in the generation and purification of soluble, uncoupled GP1 and GP2 proteins from mammalian cells with quasi-native properties. The observation of GP1 ectodomain shedding from cells expressing wild type LASV GPC establishes new correlates of disease progression and highlights potential opportunities for development of diagnostics targeting the early stages of Lassa fever.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis M Branco
- Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Joseph N Fair
- Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Kerry A Illick
- BioFactura, Inc., Rockville, MD, USA
- Department of Science, Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA, USA
| | | | - Randal Schoepp
- Diagnostic Systems Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Robert F Garry
- Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Mary C Guttieri
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
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