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Olivieri NR, Othman L, Flannery DD, Gordon SM. Transmission, seroprevalence, and maternal-fetal impact of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Pediatr Res 2024; 95:456-463. [PMID: 37857846 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02859-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Congenital infections can have devastating short- and long-term impacts on the developing fetus. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a zoonotic pathogen of concern that causes a severe congenital syndrome but is under-recognized and under-studied. Herein we review data on the natural animal reservoirs of LCMV, modes of transmission to humans, seroprevalence of LCMV worldwide in both pregnant and non-pregnant individuals, mechanisms of viral dissemination to placenta and fetus, and impact of climate change on viral transmission. We highlight opportunities to enhance awareness of congenital LCMV and provide recommendations for prevention and monitoring among at-risk pregnant people. IMPACT: Key message of the article: LCMV is a zoonotic virus that poses a major threat to maternal-fetal health. Adds to the existing literature: We comprehensively address transmission of LCMV from the natural reservoir to the pregnant individual, placenta, and fetus. Impact: Available data call for enhanced patient and provider awareness about congenital LCMV during pregnancy, as well as a need for efforts to better define the seroprevalence and impact of congenital LCMV worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie R Olivieri
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Loui Othman
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dustin D Flannery
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Scott M Gordon
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Waqas M, Aziz S, Bushra A, Halim SA, Ali A, Ullah S, Khalid A, Abdalla AN, Khan A, Al-Harrasi A. Employing an immunoinformatics approach revealed potent multi-epitope based subunit vaccine for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. J Infect Public Health 2023; 16:214-232. [PMID: 36603375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2022.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infects many individuals worldwide and causes severe infection in the immunosuppressant recipient, spontaneous abortion, and congenital disabilities in infants. OBJECTIVES There is no specific vaccine or therapeutics available to protect against LCMV infection; thus, there is a need to design a potential vaccine to combat the virus by developing immunity in the population. Herein, we attempted to design a potent multi-epitope vaccine for LCMV using immunoinformatics methods. METHODS The whole proteome of the virus was screened and mapped to extract immunodominant B-cell and T-cell epitopes which were fused with appropriate linkers (EAAAK, GGGS, AAY, GPGPG, and AAY), PADRE sequence (13aa) and an adjuvant (50 S ribosomal protein L7/L12) to formulate a multi-epitope vaccine ensemble. Codon adaptation and in silico cloning of the constructed vaccine were carried out using bioinformatics tools. The secondary and tertiary structure of the vaccine construct was predicted and refined. The physicochemical profile of the designed vaccine was analyzed, and the multi-epitope vaccine's potential to bind Toll-like receptors (TLR2 and TLR4) was evaluated through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Computational immune simulation of the designed vaccine antigen was performed using the C-ImmSim server. RESULTS The designed multi-epitope-based vaccine (613 aa) comprised 26 immunodominant (six B-cell, nine cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and 11 helper T lymphocytes) epitopes and is predicted antigenic, non-toxic, non-allergen, soluble, and topographically accessible with a suitable physicochemical profile. The designed vaccine is expected to cover a broad worldwide population (96.35 %) and stimulate a robust adaptive immune response against the virus upon administration. In silico cloning of the constructed vaccine in PET28a (+) vector ensured its optimal expression in the Escherichia coli system. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and binding free energy estimation collectively support the stability and energetically favourable interaction of the modeled vaccine-TLR2/4 complexes. CONCLUSION The designed multi-epitope vaccine in the present study could serve as a potential vaccine candidate to protect against LMCV infection; however, the experimental validation and safety testing of the vaccine is warranted to validate the study's outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Waqas
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat-ul-Mouz 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman; Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Hazara University Mansehra, 2100, Pakistan
| | - Shahkaar Aziz
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan
| | - Aiman Bushra
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sobia Ahsan Halim
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat-ul-Mouz 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Amjad Ali
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Hazara University Mansehra, 2100, Pakistan
| | - Saeed Ullah
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat-ul-Mouz 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Asaad Khalid
- Substance Abuse and Toxicology Research Center, Jazan University, P.O. Box: 114, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Traditional Medicine Research Institute, National Center for Research, P.O. Box 2404, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ashraf N Abdalla
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ajmal Khan
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat-ul-Mouz 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Birkat-ul-Mouz 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.
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Ozeki T, Abe H, Ushijima Y, Nze-Nkogue C, Akomo-Okoue EF, Ella GWE, Koumba LBM, Nso BCBB, Mintsa-Nguema R, Makouloutou-Nzassi P, Makanga BK, Nguelet FLM, Ondo GN, Mbadinga MJVM, Igasaki Y, Okada S, Hirano M, Yoshii K, Lell B, Bonney LC, Hewson R, Kurosaki Y, Yasuda J. Identification of novel orthonairoviruses from rodents and shrews in Gabon, Central Africa. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 36215163 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In Africa, several emerging zoonotic viruses have been transmitted from small mammals such as rodents and shrews to humans. Although no clinical cases of small mammal-borne viral diseases have been reported in Central Africa, potential zoonotic viruses have been identified in rodents in the region. Therefore, we hypothesized that there may be unrecognized zoonotic viruses circulating in small mammals in Central Africa. Here, we investigated viruses that have been maintained among wild small mammals in Gabon to understand their potential risks to humans. We identified novel orthonairoviruses in 24.6 % of captured rodents and shrews from their kidney total RNA samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the novel viruses, Lamusara virus (LMSV) and Lamgora virus, were closely related to Erve virus, which was previously identified in shrews of the genus Crocidura and has been suspected to cause neuropathogenic diseases in humans. Moreover, we show that the LMSV ovarian tumour domain protease, one of the virulence determination factors of orthonairoviruses, suppressed interferon signalling in human cells, suggesting the possible human pathogenicity of this virus. Taken together, our study demonstrates the presence of novel orthonairoviruses that may pose unrecognized risks of viral disease transmission in Gabon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takehiro Ozeki
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Haruka Abe
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Yuri Ushijima
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Chimène Nze-Nkogue
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET), Libreville BP13354, Gabon
| | | | - Ghislain W E Ella
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET), Libreville BP13354, Gabon
| | - Lilian B M Koumba
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET), Libreville BP13354, Gabon
| | - Branly C B B Nso
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET), Libreville BP13354, Gabon
| | | | | | - Boris K Makanga
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET), Libreville BP13354, Gabon
| | - Fred L M Nguelet
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET), Libreville BP13354, Gabon
| | - Georgelin N Ondo
- Centre de Recherche Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné BP242, Gabon
| | | | - Yui Igasaki
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Sayaka Okada
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Minato Hirano
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Kentaro Yoshii
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Bertrand Lell
- Centre de Recherche Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné BP242, Gabon.,University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72072, Germany.,Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Laura C Bonney
- United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JZ, UK
| | - Roger Hewson
- United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JZ, UK
| | - Yohei Kurosaki
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Jiro Yasuda
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.,National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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Vilibic-Cavlek T, Savic V, Ferenc T, Mrzljak A, Barbic L, Bogdanic M, Stevanovic V, Tabain I, Ferencak I, Zidovec-Lepej S. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis-Emerging Trends of a Neglected Virus: A Narrative Review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6020088. [PMID: 34070581 PMCID: PMC8163193 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6020088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a neglected rodent-borne zoonotic virus distributed worldwide. Since serologic assays are limited to several laboratories, the disease has been underreported, often making it difficult to determine incidence and seroprevalence rates. Although human clinical cases are rarely recorded, LCMV remains an important cause of meningitis in humans. In addition, a fatal donor-derived LCMV infection in several clusters of solid organ transplant recipients further highlighted a pathogenic potential and clinical significance of this virus. In the transplant populations, abnormalities of the central nervous system were also found, but were overshadowed by the systemic illness resembling the Lassa hemorrhagic fever. LCMV is also an emerging fetal teratogen. Hydrocephalus, periventricular calcifications and chorioretinitis are the predominant characteristics of congenital LCMV infection, occurring in 87.5% of cases. Mortality in congenitally infected children is about 35%, while 70% of them show long-term neurologic sequelae. Clinicians should be aware of the risks posed by LCMV and should consider the virus in the differential diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, especially in patients who reported contact with rodents. Furthermore, LCMV should be considered in infants and children with unexplained hydrocephalus, intracerebral calcifications and chorioretinitis. Despite intensive interdisciplinary research efforts, efficient antiviral therapy for LCMV infection is still not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.B.); (I.T.); (I.F.)
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +385-1-4863-238
| | - Vladimir Savic
- Laboratory for Virology and Serology, Poultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Thomas Ferenc
- Clinical Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Merkur University Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Anna Mrzljak
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ljubo Barbic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.B.); (V.S.)
| | - Maja Bogdanic
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.B.); (I.T.); (I.F.)
| | - Vladimir Stevanovic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.B.); (V.S.)
| | - Irena Tabain
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.B.); (I.T.); (I.F.)
| | - Ivana Ferencak
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.B.); (I.T.); (I.F.)
| | - Snjezana Zidovec-Lepej
- Department of Immunological and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr Fran Mihaljevic”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
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