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Flaxman A, Sebastian S, Appelberg S, Cha KM, Ulaszewska M, Purushotham J, Gilbride C, Sharpe H, Spencer AJ, Bibi S, Wright D, Schmidt I, Dowall S, Easterbrook L, Findlay-Wilson S, Gilbert S, Mirazimi A, Lambe T. Potent immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a multi-pathogen vaccination targeting Ebola, Sudan, Marburg and Lassa viruse. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012262. [PMID: 38924060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF) pose a significant threat to human health. In recent years, VHF outbreaks caused by Ebola, Marburg and Lassa viruses have caused substantial morbidity and mortality in West and Central Africa. In 2022, an Ebola disease outbreak in Uganda caused by Sudan virus resulted in 164 cases with 55 deaths. In 2023, a Marburg disease outbreak was confirmed in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania resulting in over 49 confirmed or suspected cases; 41 of which were fatal. There are no clearly defined correlates of protection against these VHF, impeding targeted vaccine development. Any vaccine developed should therefore induce strong and preferably long-lasting humoral and cellular immunity against these viruses. Ideally this immunity should also cross-protect against viral variants, which are known to circulate in animal reservoirs and cause human disease. We have utilized two viral vectored vaccine platforms, an adenovirus (ChAdOx1) and Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), to develop a multi-pathogen vaccine regime against three filoviruses (Ebola virus, Sudan virus, Marburg virus) and an arenavirus (Lassa virus). These platform technologies have consistently demonstrated the capability to induce robust cellular and humoral antigen-specific immunity in humans, most recently in the rollout of the licensed ChAdOx1-nCoV19/AZD1222. Here, we show that our multi-pathogen vaccines elicit strong cellular and humoral immunity, induce a diverse range of chemokines and cytokines, and most importantly, confers protection after lethal Ebola virus, Sudan virus and Marburg virus challenges in a small animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Flaxman
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Sebastian
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kuan M Cha
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Ulaszewska
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jyothi Purushotham
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ciaran Gilbride
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Sharpe
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra J Spencer
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sagida Bibi
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Wright
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Schmidt
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Dowall
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Easterbrook
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sarah Gilbert
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Teresa Lambe
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Peter AS, Hoffmann DS, Klier J, Lange CM, Moeller J, Most V, Wüst CK, Beining M, Gülesen S, Junker H, Brumme B, Schiffner T, Meiler J, Schoeder CT. Strategies of rational and structure-driven vaccine design for Arenaviruses. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 123:105626. [PMID: 38908736 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the importance of pandemic preparedness for the prevention of future health crises. One virus family with high pandemic potential are Arenaviruses, which have been detected almost worldwide, particularly in Africa and the Americas. These viruses are highly understudied and many questions regarding their structure, replication and tropism remain unanswered, making the design of an efficacious and molecularly-defined vaccine challenging. We propose that structure-driven computational vaccine design will contribute to overcome these challenges. Computational methods for stabilization of viral glycoproteins or epitope focusing have made progress during the last decades and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have proven useful for rational vaccine design and the establishment of novel diagnostic tools. In this review, we summarize gaps in our understanding of Arenavirus molecular biology, highlight challenges in vaccine design and discuss how structure-driven and computationally informed strategies will aid in overcoming these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Sophia Peter
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dieter S Hoffmann
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Klier
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christina M Lange
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johanna Moeller
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence ScaDS.AI, Dresden/Leipzig, Germany
| | - Victoria Most
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christina K Wüst
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Molecular Medicine Studies, Faculty for Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Max Beining
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; SECAI, School of Embedded Composite Artificial Intelligence, Dresden/Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sevilay Gülesen
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hannes Junker
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Birke Brumme
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Torben Schiffner
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; The Scripps Research Institute, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jens Meiler
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence ScaDS.AI, Dresden/Leipzig, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Clara T Schoeder
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence ScaDS.AI, Dresden/Leipzig, Germany.
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3
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Wang X, Ye X, Li R, Zai X, Hu M, Wang S, Ren H, Jin Y, Xu J, Yue J. Spatio-temporal spread and evolution of Lassa virus in West Africa. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:314. [PMID: 38486143 PMCID: PMC10941413 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09200-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic disease caused by Lassa virus (LASV), which has been classified by the World Health Organization as one of the top infectious diseases requiring prioritized research. Previous studies have provided insights into the classification and geographic characteristics of LASV lineages. However, the factor of the distribution and evolution characteristics and phylodynamics of the virus was still limited. METHODS To enhance comprehensive understanding of LASV, we employed phylogenetic analysis, reassortment and recombination detection, and variation evaluation utilizing publicly available viral genome sequences. RESULTS The results showed the estimated the root of time of the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for large (L) segment was approximately 634 (95% HPD: [385879]), whereas the TMRCA for small (S) segment was around 1224 (95% HPD: [10301401]). LASV primarily spread from east to west in West Africa through two routes, and in route 2, the virus independently spread to surrounding countries through Liberia, resulting in a wider spread of LASV. From 1969 to 2018, the effective population size experienced two significant increased, indicating the enhanced genetic diversity of LASV. We also found the evolution rate of L segment was faster than S segment, further results showed zinc-binding protein had the fastest evolution rate. Reassortment events were detected in multiple lineages including sub-lineage IIg, while recombination events were observed within lineage V. Significant amino acid changes in the glycoprotein precursor of LASV were identified, demonstrating sequence diversity among lineages in LASV. CONCLUSION This study comprehensively elucidated the transmission and evolution of LASV in West Africa, providing detailed insights into reassortment events, recombination events, and amino acid variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wang
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
- Medical College of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Xianwei Ye
- Medical College of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Ruihua Li
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xiaodong Zai
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Mingda Hu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Shaoyan Wang
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Hongguang Ren
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yuan Jin
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Junjie Xu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Junjie Yue
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology & State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China.
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Katz M, Diskin R. The underlying mechanisms of arenaviral entry through matriglycan. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1371551. [PMID: 38516183 PMCID: PMC10955480 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1371551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Matriglycan, a recently characterized linear polysaccharide, is composed of alternating xylose and glucuronic acid subunits bound to the ubiquitously expressed protein α-dystroglycan (α-DG). Pathogenic arenaviruses, like the Lassa virus (LASV), hijack this long linear polysaccharide to gain cellular entry. Until recently, it was unclear through what mechanisms LASV engages its matriglycan receptor to initiate infection. Additionally, how matriglycan is synthesized onto α-DG by the Golgi-resident glycosyltransferase LARGE1 remained enigmatic. Recent structural data for LARGE1 and for the LASV spike complex informs us about the synthesis of matriglycan as well as its usage as an entry receptor by arenaviruses. In this review, we discuss structural insights into the system of matriglycan generation and eventual recognition by pathogenic viruses. We also highlight the unique usage of matriglycan as a high-affinity host receptor compared with other polysaccharides that decorate cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ron Diskin
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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5
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Sänger L, Williams HM, Yu D, Vogel D, Kosinski J, Rosenthal M, Uetrecht C. RNA to Rule Them All: Critical Steps in Lassa Virus Ribonucleoparticle Assembly and Recruitment. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:27958-27974. [PMID: 38104324 PMCID: PMC10755698 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Lassa virus is a negative-strand RNA virus with only four structural proteins that causes periodic outbreaks in West Africa. The nucleoprotein (NP) encapsidates the viral genome, forming ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) together with the viral RNA and the L protein. RNPs must be continuously restructured during viral genome replication and transcription. The Z protein is important for membrane recruitment of RNPs, viral particle assembly, and budding and has also been shown to interact with the L protein. However, the interaction of NP, viral RNA, and Z is poorly understood. Here, we characterize the interactions between Lassa virus NP, Z, and RNA using structural mass spectrometry. We identify the presence of RNA as the driver for the disassembly of ring-like NP trimers, a storage form, into monomers to subsequently form higher order RNA-bound NP assemblies. We locate the interaction site of Z and NP and demonstrate that while NP binds Z independently of the presence of RNA, this interaction is pH-dependent. These data improve our understanding of RNP assembly, recruitment, and release in Lassa virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Sänger
- Bernhard
Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- CSSB
Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Leibniz
Institute of Virology (LIV), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Harry M. Williams
- Bernhard
Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- CSSB
Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dingquan Yu
- CSSB
Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- European
Molecular Biology Laboratory Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Vogel
- Bernhard
Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Kosinski
- CSSB
Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- European
Molecular Biology Laboratory Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Structural
and Computational Biology Unit, European
Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Rosenthal
- Bernhard
Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- CSSB
Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer
Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Uetrecht
- CSSB
Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Leibniz
Institute of Virology (LIV), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty
V: School of Life Sciences, University of
Siegen, Am Eichenhang 50, 57076 Siegen, Germany
- Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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6
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Ronk AJ, Lloyd NM, Zhang M, Atyeo C, Perrett HR, Mire CE, Hastie KM, Sanders RW, Brouwer PJM, Saphire EO, Ward AB, Ksiazek TG, Alvarez Moreno JC, Thaker HM, Alter G, Himansu S, Carfi A, Bukreyev A. A Lassa virus mRNA vaccine confers protection but does not require neutralizing antibody in a guinea pig model of infection. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5603. [PMID: 37699929 PMCID: PMC10497546 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus is a member of the Arenaviridae family, which causes human infections ranging from asymptomatic to severe hemorrhagic disease with a high case fatality rate. We have designed and generated lipid nanoparticle encapsulated, modified mRNA vaccines that encode for the wild-type Lassa virus strain Josiah glycoprotein complex or the prefusion stabilized conformation of the Lassa virus glycoprotein complex. Hartley guinea pigs were vaccinated with two 10 µg doses, 28 days apart, of either construct. Vaccination induced strong binding antibody responses, specific to the prefusion conformation of glycoprotein complex, which were significantly higher in the prefusion stabilized glycoprotein complex construct group and displayed strong Fc-mediated effects. However, Lassa virus-neutralizing antibody activity was detected in some but not all animals. Following the challenge with a lethal dose of the Lassa virus, all vaccinated animals were protected from death and severe disease. Although the definitive mechanism of protection is still unknown, and assessment of the cell-mediated immune response was not investigated in this study, these data demonstrate the promise of mRNA as a vaccine platform against the Lassa virus and that protection against Lassa virus can be achieved in the absence of virus-neutralizing antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Ronk
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Nicole M Lloyd
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Caroline Atyeo
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, 02139, US
| | - Hailee R Perrett
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology California Campus, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
| | - Chad E Mire
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Kathryn M Hastie
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
| | - Rogier W Sanders
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Philip J M Brouwer
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Erica Olmann Saphire
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology California Campus, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
| | - Thomas G Ksiazek
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | | | - Harshwardhan M Thaker
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Galit Alter
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, 02139, US
| | | | | | - Alexander Bukreyev
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US.
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US.
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US.
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7
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Isibor PO, Onwaeze OO, Kayode-Edwards II, Agbontaen DO, Ifebem-Ezima IAM, Bilewu O, Onuselogu C, Akinniyi AP, Obafemi YD, Oniha MI. Investigating and combatting the key drivers of viral zoonoses in Africa: an analysis of eight epidemics. BRAZ J BIOL 2023; 84:e270857. [PMID: 37531478 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.270857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigating the interplay of factors that result in a viral zoonotic outbreak is difficult, though it is increasingly important. As anthropogenic influences shift the delicate balance of ecosystems, new zoonoses emerge in humans. Sub-Saharan Africa is a notable hotspot for zoonotic disease due to abundant competent mammalian reservoir hosts. Furthermore, poverty, corruption, and an overreliance on natural resources play considerable roles in depleting biological resources, exacerbating the population's susceptibility. Unsurprisingly, viral zoonoses have emerged in Africa, including HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Avian influenza, Lassa fever, Zika, and Monkeypox. These diseases are among the principal causes of death in endemic areas. Though typically distinct in their manifestations, viral zoonoses are connected by underlying, definitive factors. This review summarises vital findings on viral zoonoses in Africa using nine notable case studies as a benchmark for future studies. We discuss the importance of ecological recuperation and protection as a central strategy to control zoonotic diseases. Emphasis was made on moderating key drivers of zoonotic diseases to forestall future pandemics. This is in conjunction with attempts to redirect efforts from reactive to pre-emptive through a multidisciplinary "one health" approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- P O Isibor
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - O O Onwaeze
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - I I Kayode-Edwards
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - D O Agbontaen
- University of South Wales, Department of Public Health, Pontypridd, United Kingdom
| | - I-A M Ifebem-Ezima
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - O Bilewu
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - C Onuselogu
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - A P Akinniyi
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Y D Obafemi
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - M I Oniha
- Covenant University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
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8
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Sulis G, Peebles A, Basta NE. Lassa fever vaccine candidates: A scoping review of vaccine clinical trials. Trop Med Int Health 2023; 28:420-431. [PMID: 37095630 PMCID: PMC10247453 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lassa fever (LF) is caused by a viral pathogen with pandemic potential. LF vaccines have the potential to prevent significant disease in individuals at risk of infection, but no such vaccine has been licensed or authorised for use thus far. We conducted a scoping review to identify and compare registered phase 1, 2 or 3 clinical trials of LF vaccine candidates, and appraise the current trajectory of LF vaccine development. METHOD We systematically searched 24 trial registries, PubMed, relevant conference abstracts and additional grey literature sources up to 27 October 2022. After extracting key details about each vaccine candidate and each eligible trial, we qualitatively synthesised the evidence. RESULTS We found that four LF vaccine candidates (INO-4500, MV-LASV, rVSV∆G-LASV-GPC, and EBS-LASV) have entered the clinical stage of assessment. Five phase 1 trials (all focused on healthy adults) and one phase 2 trial (involving a broader age group from 18 months to 70 years) evaluating one of these vaccines have been registered to date. Here, we describe the characteristics of each vaccine candidate and trial and compare them to WHO's target product profile for Lassa vaccines. CONCLUSION Though LF vaccine development is still in early stages, current progress towards a safe and effective vaccine is encouraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Sulis
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Alexandra Peebles
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Nicole E. Basta
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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9
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Kayem ND, Okogbenin S, Okoeguale J, Momoh M, Njoku A, Eifediyi R, Enodiana X, Ngwu H, Irhiogbe W, Ighodalo Y, Olokor T, Odigie G, Castle L, Duraffour S, Oestereich L, Dahal P, Ariana P, Gunther S, Horby P. Seroepidemiology of Lassa virus in pregnant women in Southern Nigeria: A prospective hospital-based cohort study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011354. [PMID: 37216412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited epidemiological evidence on Lassa fever in pregnant women with acute gaps on prevalence, infection incidence, and risk factors. Such evidence would facilitate the design of therapeutic and vaccine trials and the design of control programs. Our study sought to address some of these gaps by estimating the seroprevalence and seroconversion risk of Lassa fever in pregnant women. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted a prospective hospital-based cohort between February and December 2019 in Edo State, Southern Nigeria, enrolling pregnant women at antenatal clinic and following them up at delivery. Samples were evaluated for IgG antibodies against Lassa virus. The study demonstrates a seroprevalence of Lassa IgG antibodies of 49.6% and a seroconversion risk of 20.8%. Seropositivity was strongly correlated with rodent exposure around homes with an attributable risk proportion of 35%. Seroreversion was also seen with a seroreversion risk of 13.4%. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our study suggests that 50% of pregnant women were at risk of Lassa infection and that 35.0% of infections might be preventable by avoiding rodent exposure and conditions which facilitate infestation and the risk of human-rodent contact. While the evidence on rodent exposure is subjective and further studies are needed to provide a better understanding of the avenues of human-rodent interaction; public health measures to decrease the risk of rodent infestation and the risk of spill over events may be beneficial. With an estimated seroconversion risk of 20.8%, our study suggests an appreciable risk of contracting Lassa fever during pregnancy and while most of these seroconversions may not be new infections, given the high risk of adverse outcomes in pregnancy, it supports the need for preventative and therapeutic options against Lassa fever in pregnancy. The occurrence of seroreversion in our study suggests that the prevalence obtained in this, and other cohorts may be an underestimate of the actual proportion of women of childbearing age who present at pregnancy with prior LASV exposure. Additionally, the occurrence of both seroconversion and seroreversion in this cohort suggests that these parameters would need to be considered for the development of Lassa vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and utility models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sylvanus Okogbenin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Joseph Okoeguale
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Mojeed Momoh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Antonia Njoku
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Reuben Eifediyi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Xavier Enodiana
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Hilary Ngwu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Wilfred Irhiogbe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Yemisi Ighodalo
- Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Thomas Olokor
- Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - George Odigie
- Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Lyndsey Castle
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Duraffour
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Oestereich
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Prabin Dahal
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Proochista Ariana
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stephan Gunther
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Horby
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Grant DS, Engel EJ, Roberts Yerkes N, Kanneh L, Koninga J, Gbakie MA, Alhasan F, Kanneh FB, Kanneh IM, Kamara FK, Momoh M, Yillah MS, Foday M, Okoli A, Zeoli A, Weldon C, Bishop CM, Zheng C, Hartnett J, Chao K, Shore K, Melnik LI, Mucci M, Bond NG, Doyle P, Yenni R, Podgorski R, Ficenec SC, Moses L, Shaffer JG, Garry RF, Schieffelin JS. Seroprevalence of anti-Lassa Virus IgG antibodies in three districts of Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional, population-based study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010938. [PMID: 36758101 PMCID: PMC9946222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa virus (LASV), the cause of the acute viral hemorrhagic illness Lassa fever (LF), is endemic in West Africa. Infections in humans occur mainly after exposure to infected excrement or urine of the rodent-host, Mastomys natalensis. The prevalence of exposure to LASV in Sierra Leone is crudely estimated and largely unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to establish a baseline point seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to LASV in three administrative districts of Sierra Leone and identify potential risk factors for seropositivity and LASV exposure. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Between 2015 and 2018, over 10,642 participants from Kenema, Tonkolili, and Port Loko Districts were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Previous LASV and LF epidemiological studies support classification of these districts as "endemic," "emerging," and "non-endemic", respectively. Dried blood spot samples were tested for LASV antibodies by ELISA to determine the seropositivity of participants, indicating previous exposure to LASV. Surveys were administered to each participant to assess demographic and environmental factors associated with a higher risk of exposure to LASV. Overall seroprevalence for antibodies to LASV was 16.0%. In Kenema, Port Loko, and Tonkolili Districts, seroprevalences were 20.1%, 14.1%, and 10.6%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, individuals were more likely to be LASV seropositive if they were living in Kenema District, regardless of sex, age, or occupation. Environmental factors contributed to an increased risk of LASV exposure, including poor housing construction and proximity to bushland, forested areas, and refuse. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE In this study we determine a baseline LASV seroprevalence in three districts which will inform future epidemiological, ecological, and clinical studies on LF and the LASV in Sierra Leone. The heterogeneity of the distribution of LASV and LF over both space, and time, can make the design of efficacy trials and intervention programs difficult. Having more studies on the prevalence of LASV and identifying potential hyper-endemic areas will greatly increase the awareness of LF and improve targeted control programs related to LASV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald S. Grant
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Emily J. Engel
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nicole Roberts Yerkes
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - James Koninga
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Michael A. Gbakie
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Foday Alhasan
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Franklyn B. Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Ibrahim Mustapha Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Fatima K. Kamara
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed S. Yillah
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Momoh Foday
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Adaora Okoli
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Ashley Zeoli
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Caroline Weldon
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Bishop
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Crystal Zheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jessica Hartnett
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Karissa Chao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Kayla Shore
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lilia I. Melnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Mallory Mucci
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nell G. Bond
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Philip Doyle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Rachael Yenni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Rachel Podgorski
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Samuel C. Ficenec
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lina Moses
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey G. Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Robert F. Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - John S. Schieffelin
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
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Aloke C, Obasi NA, Aja PM, Emelike CU, Egwu CO, Jeje O, Edeogu CO, Onisuru OO, Orji OU, Achilonu I. Combating Lassa Fever in West African Sub-Region: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Viruses 2023; 15:146. [PMID: 36680186 PMCID: PMC9864412 DOI: 10.3390/v15010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a rodent-borne disease that threatens human health in the sub-region of West Africa where the zoonotic host of Lassa virus (LASV) is predominant. Currently, treatment options for LF are limited and since no preventive vaccine is approved for its infectivity, there is a high mortality rate in endemic areas. This narrative review explores the transmission, pathogenicity of LASV, advances, and challenges of different treatment options. Our findings indicate that genetic diversity among the different strains of LASV and their ability to circumvent the immune system poses a critical challenge to the development of LASV vaccines/therapeutics. Thus, understanding the biochemistry, physiology and genetic polymorphism of LASV, mechanism of evading host immunity are essential for development of effective LASV vaccines/therapeutics to combat this lethal viral disease. The LASV nucleoprotein (NP) is a novel target for therapeutics as it functions significantly in several aspects of the viral life cycle. Consequently, LASV NP inhibitors could be employed as effective therapeutics as they will potentially inhibit LASV replication. Effective preventive control measures, vaccine development, target validation, and repurposing of existing drugs, such as ribavirin, using activity or in silico-based and computational bioinformatics, would aid in the development of novel drugs for LF management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinyere Aloke
- Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki PMB 1010, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Nwogo Ajuka Obasi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki PMB 1010, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Patrick Maduabuchi Aja
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki PMB 053, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka P.O. Box 71, Uganda
| | - Chinedum Uche Emelike
- Department of Physiology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki PMB 1010, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Chinedu Ogbonnia Egwu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki PMB 1010, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Olamide Jeje
- Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Chuks Oswald Edeogu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki PMB 053, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Olalekan Olugbenga Onisuru
- Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Obasi Uche Orji
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki PMB 053, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Ikechukwu Achilonu
- Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
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12
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Mammarenavirus Genetic Diversity and Its Biological Implications. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 439:265-303. [PMID: 36592249 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15640-3_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Members of the family Arenaviridae are classified into four genera: Antennavirus, Hartmanivirus, Mammarenavirus, and Reptarenavirus. Reptarenaviruses and hartmaniviruses infect (captive) snakes and have been shown to cause boid inclusion body disease (BIBD). Antennaviruses have genomes consisting of 3, rather than 2, segments, and were discovered in actinopterygian fish by next-generation sequencing but no biological isolate has been reported yet. The hosts of mammarenaviruses are mainly rodents and infections are generally asymptomatic. Current knowledge about the biology of reptarenaviruses, hartmaniviruses, and antennaviruses is very limited and their zoonotic potential is unknown. In contrast, some mammarenaviruses are associated with zoonotic events that pose a threat to human health. This review will focus on mammarenavirus genetic diversity and its biological implications. Some mammarenaviruses including lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) are excellent experimental model systems for the investigation of acute and persistent viral infections, whereas others including Lassa (LASV) and Junin (JUNV) viruses, the causative agents of Lassa fever (LF) and Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF), respectively, are important human pathogens. Mammarenaviruses were thought to have high degree of intra-and inter-species amino acid sequence identities, but recent evidence has revealed a high degree of mammarenavirus genetic diversity in the field. Moreover, closely related mammarenavirus can display dramatic phenotypic differences in vivo. These findings support a role of genetic variability in mammarenavirus adaptability and pathogenesis. Here, we will review the molecular biology of mammarenaviruses, phylogeny, and evolution, as well as the quasispecies dynamics of mammarenavirus populations and their biological implications.
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13
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Lassa antiviral LHF-535 protects guinea pigs from lethal challenge. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19911. [PMID: 36402782 PMCID: PMC9675838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23760-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
LHF-535 is a small molecule antiviral currently in development for the treatment of Lassa fever, a zoonotic disease endemic in West Africa that generates significant morbidity and mortality. Current treatment options are inadequate, and there are no approved therapeutics or vaccines for Lassa fever. LHF-535 was evaluated in a lethal guinea pig model of Lassa pathogenesis, using once-daily administration of a fixed dose (50 mg/kg/day) initiating either 1 or 3 days after inoculation with a lethal dose of Lassa virus. LHF-535 reduced viremia and clinical signs and protected all animals from lethality. A subset of surviving animals was rechallenged four months later with a second lethal challenge of Lassa virus and were found to be protected from disease. LHF-535 pharmacokinetics at the protective dose in guinea pigs showed plasma concentrations well within the range observed in clinical trials in healthy volunteers, supporting the continued development of LHF-535 as a Lassa therapeutic.
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14
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Murphy H, Ly H. Understanding Immune Responses to Lassa Virus Infection and to Its Candidate Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1668. [PMID: 36298533 PMCID: PMC9612042 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a deadly viral hemorrhagic fever disease that is endemic in several countries in West Africa. It is caused by Lassa virus (LASV), which has been estimated to be responsible for approximately 300,000 infections and 5000 deaths annually. LASV is a highly pathogenic human pathogen without effective therapeutics or FDA-approved vaccines. Here, we aim to provide a literature review of the current understanding of the basic mechanism of immune responses to LASV infection in animal models and patients, as well as to several of its candidate vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hinh Ly
- Comparative & Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
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15
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Isaac AB, Karolina W, Temitope AA, Anuska R, Joanne E, Deborah A, Bianca OC, Filip T, Zofia P, Oluwasegun OI, Oluwaferanmi O, Grace BT. PROSPECTS OF LASSA FEVER CANDIDATE VACCINES. Afr J Infect Dis 2022; 16:46-58. [PMID: 36124324 PMCID: PMC9480887 DOI: 10.21010/ajid.v16i2s.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus (LASV). It is endemic in West Africa and infects about 300,000 people each year, leading to approximately 5000 deaths annually. The development of the LASV vaccine has been listed as a priority by the World Health Organization since 2018. Considering the accelerated development and availability of vaccines against COVID-19, we set out to assess the prospects of LASV vaccines and the progress made so far. Materials and Methods We reviewed the progress made on twenty-six vaccine candidates listed by Salami et al. (2019) and searched for new vaccine candidates through Google Scholar, PubMed, and DOAJ from June to July 2021. We searched the articles published in English using keywords that included "vaccine" AND "Lassa fever" OR "Lassa virus" in the title/abstract. Results Thirty-four candidate vaccines were identified - 26 already listed in the review by Salami et al. and an additional 8, which were developed over the last seven years. 30 vaccines are still in the pre-clinical stage while 4 of them are currently undergoing clinical trials. The most promising candidates in 2019 were vesicular stomatitis virus-vectored vaccine and live-attenuated MV/LASV vaccine; both had progressed to clinical trials. Conclusions Despite the focus on COVID-19 vaccines since 2020, LASV vaccine is under development and continues to make impressive progress, hence more emphasis should be put into exploring further clinical studies related to the most promising types of vaccines identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ademusire Babatunde Isaac
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria
| | - Wieczorek Karolina
- Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria,Queen Mary University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, United Kingdom,Corresponding author’s E-Mail:
| | - Alonge Aishat Temitope
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria
| | - Rajen Anuska
- Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria,Queen Mary University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, United Kingdom
| | - Egbe Joanne
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria
| | - Adebambo Deborah
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria
| | - Offorbuike Chiamaka Bianca
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria
| | - Trojan Filip
- University College London, Medical School, London, United Kingdom
| | - Przypaśniak Zofia
- Queen Mary University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, United Kingdom
| | - Oduguwa Ifeoluwa Oluwasegun
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria
| | - Omitoyin Oluwaferanmi
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria
| | - Balogun Toluwalogo Grace
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,Polygeia (Global Health Student Think Tank), Ibadan Branch, Nigeria
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To A, Lai CY, Wong TAS, Namekar M, Lieberman MM, Lehrer AT. Adjuvants Differentially Modulate the Immunogenicity of Lassa Virus Glycoprotein Subunits in Mice. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022; 3. [PMID: 37034031 PMCID: PMC10081732 DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.847598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa Fever (LF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus (LASV) that is primarily transmitted through contact with wild rodents in West Africa. Although several advanced vaccine candidates are progressing through clinical trials, some effective vaccines are virally vectored and thus require a stringent cold-chain, making distribution to rural and resource-poor areas difficult. Recombinant subunit vaccines are advantageous in this aspect as they can be thermostabilized and deployed with minimal storage and transportation requirements. However, antigen dose and adjuvant formulation must be carefully selected to ensure both the appropriate humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are elicited. In this study, we examine the immunogenicity of a two-step immunoaffinity-purified recombinant LASV glycoprotein (GP) with five clinical- and preclinical-grade adjuvants. Swiss Webster mice immunized intramuscularly with 2 or 3 doses of each vaccine formulation showed complete seroconversion and maximal GP-specific antibody response after two immunizations. Formulations with GPI-0100, LiteVax, Montanide™ ISA 51, and Montanide™ ISA 720 induced both IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies suggesting a balanced Th1/Th2 response, whereas formulation of LASV GP with Alhydrogel elicited a IgG1-dominant response. Splenocytes secreting both Th1 and Th2 cytokines i.e., IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5, were observed from mice receiving both antigen doses formulated with ISA 720, LiteVax and GPI-0100. However, robust, multifunctional T-cells were only detected in mice receiving a higher dose of LASV GP formulated with GPI-0100. Our results emphasize the importance of careful adjuvant selection and lay the immunological basis for a recombinant subunit protein LF vaccine formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert To
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Chih-Yun Lai
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Teri Ann S. Wong
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Madhuri Namekar
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Michael M. Lieberman
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Axel T. Lehrer
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Correspondence: Axel T. Lehrer,
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Salam AP, Duvignaud A, Jaspard M, Malvy D, Carroll M, Tarning J, Olliaro PL, Horby PW. Ribavirin for treating Lassa fever: A systematic review of pre-clinical studies and implications for human dosing. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010289. [PMID: 35353804 PMCID: PMC9000057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribavirin is currently the standard of care for treating Lassa fever. However, the human clinical trial data supporting its use suffer from several serious flaws that render the results and conclusions unreliable. We performed a systematic review of available pre-clinical data and human pharmacokinetic data on ribavirin in Lassa. In in-vitro studies, the EC50 of ribavirin ranged from 0.6 μg/ml to 21.72 μg/ml and the EC90 ranged from 1.5 μg/ml to 29 μg/ml. The mean EC50 was 7 μg/ml and the mean EC90 was 15 μg/ml. Human PK data in patients with Lassa fever was sparse and did not allow for estimation of concentration profiles or pharmacokinetic parameters. Pharmacokinetic modelling based on healthy human data suggests that the concentration profiles of current ribavirin regimes only exceed the mean EC50 for less than 20% of the time and the mean EC90 for less than 10% of the time, raising the possibility that the current ribavirin regimens in clinical use are unlikely to reliably achieve serum concentrations required to inhibit Lassa virus replication. The results of this review highlight serious issues with the evidence, which, by today standards, would be unlikely to support the transition of ribavirin from pre-clinical studies to human clinical trials. Additional pre-clinical studies are needed before embarking on expensive and challenging clinical trials of ribavirin in Lassa fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex P. Salam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- United Kingdom Public Health Rapid Support Team, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandre Duvignaud
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Division of Tropical Medicine and Clinical International Health, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- UMR1219, INSERM, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), and University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Programme PAC-CI/ANRS Research Center, CHU de Treichville, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Marie Jaspard
- UMR1219, INSERM, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), and University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Programme PAC-CI/ANRS Research Center, CHU de Treichville, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Alliance for International Medical Action, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Denis Malvy
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Division of Tropical Medicine and Clinical International Health, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- UMR1219, INSERM, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), and University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Programme PAC-CI/ANRS Research Center, CHU de Treichville, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Miles Carroll
- Wellcome Center for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joel Tarning
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Piero L. Olliaro
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W. Horby
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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18
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Njuguna C, Vandi M, Liyosi E, Githuku J, Wurie A, Njeru I, Raftery P, Amuzu C, Maruta A, Musoke R, Fahnbulleh M, Bunting J, Gbandeh S, Talisuna A, Yoti Z. A challenging response to a Lassa fever outbreak in a non endemic area of Sierra Leone in 2019 with export of cases to The Netherlands. Int J Infect Dis 2022; 117:295-301. [PMID: 35167968 PMCID: PMC8948091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction On November 20, 2019, the Sierra Leone International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point was notified of an exported case of Lassa fever in The Netherlands, by a Dutch doctor who previously practiced in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone. This report describes the extent of the outbreak, possible sources of infection, and the outbreak response measures taken. Methods Response measures implemented to control the outbreak included coordination across multiple countries and cities, outbreak investigation, active case finding, contact tracing and monitoring, laboratory investigation, and isolation and treatment of cases. Results We report a hospital-associated outbreak that resulted in 3 confirmed cases (health workers) and 2 probable cases (patients). The case fatality rate was 60%, whereas the secondary attack rate was 14%. Two cases involved exportations to The Netherlands. Failure to detect the index case and poor adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols contributed to disease spread. Pregnancy status and nonspecific signs and symptoms of the index case contributed to failure in early case detection. Conclusions Rapid activation of national and subnational incident management systems resulted in rapid outbreak control. We recommend regular training for clinicians on surveillance and IPC protocols and strengthening in-country Lassa virus diagnostic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Evans Liyosi
- World Health Organization Country office, Sierra Leone
| | - Jane Githuku
- World Health Organization Country office, Sierra Leone
| | - Alie Wurie
- Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation
| | - Ian Njeru
- World Health Organization Country office, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - Anna Maruta
- World Health Organization Country office, Sierra Leone
| | - Robert Musoke
- World Health Organization Country office, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | | | - Ambrose Talisuna
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville
| | - Zabulon Yoti
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville
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19
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Rowaiye AB, Nwonu EJ, Asala TM, Ogu AC, Bur D, Chukwu C, Oli AN, Agbalalah T. Identifying immunodominant multi-epitopes from the envelope glycoprotein of the Lassa mammarenavirus as vaccine candidate for Lassa fever. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2022; 11:249-263. [DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2022.11.3.249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Doofan Bur
- National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Angus Nnamdi Oli
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Tarimoboere Agbalalah
- National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria
- Department of Anatomy, Baze University, Abuja, Nigeria
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20
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Brisse M, Huang Q, Rahman M, Di D, Liang Y, Ly H. RIG-I and MDA5 Protect Mice From Pichinde Virus Infection by Controlling Viral Replication and Regulating Immune Responses to the Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:801811. [PMID: 34925387 PMCID: PMC8677829 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.801811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
RIG-I and MDA5 are major cytoplasmic innate-immune sensor proteins that recognize aberrant double-stranded RNAs generated during virus infection to activate type 1 interferon (IFN-I) and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) expressions to control virus infection. The roles of RIG-I and MDA5 in controlling replication of Pichinde virus (PICV), a mammarenavirus, in mice have not been examined. Here, we showed that MDA5 single knockout (SKO) and RIG-I/MDA5 double knockout (DKO) mice are highly susceptible to PICV infection as evidenced by their significant reduction in body weights during the course of the infection, validating the important roles of these innate-immune sensor proteins in controlling PICV infection. Compared to the wildtype mice, SKO and DKO mice infected with PICV had significantly higher virus titers and lower IFN-I expressions early in the infection but appeared to exhibit a late and heightened level of adaptive immune responses to clear the infection. When a recombinant rPICV mutant virus (rPICV-NPmut) that lacks the ability to suppress IFN-I was used to infect mice, as expected, there were heightened levels of IFN-I and ISG expressions in the wild-type mice, whereas infected SKO and DKO mice showed delayed mouse growth kinetics and relatively low, delayed, and transient levels of innate and adaptive immune responses to this viral infection. Taken together, our data suggest that PICV infection triggers activation of immune sensors that include but might not be necessarily limited to RIG-I and MDA5 to stimulate effective innate and adaptive immune responses to control virus infection in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Brisse
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics Graduate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, United States
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, United States
| | - Qinfeng Huang
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, United States
| | - Mizanur Rahman
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, United States
| | - Da Di
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, United States
| | - Yuying Liang
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, United States
| | - Hinh Ly
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics Graduate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, United States
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, United States
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21
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Murphy HL, Ly H. Pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms of Lassa virus and its animal modeling, diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic developments. Virulence 2021; 12:2989-3014. [PMID: 34747339 PMCID: PMC8923068 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.2000290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a deadly viral hemorrhagic disease that is endemic to West Africa. The causative agent of LF is Lassa virus (LASV), which causes approximately 300,000 infections and 5,000 deaths annually. There are currently no approved therapeutics or FDA-approved vaccines against LASV. The high genetic variability between LASV strains and immune evasion mediated by the virus complicate the development of effective therapeutics and vaccines. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the basic biology of LASV and its mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and virulence in various animal models, as well as an update on prospective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for LF. Until effective vaccines and/or therapeutics are available for use to prevent or treat LF, a better level of understanding of the basic biology of LASV, its natural genetic variations and immune evasion mechanisms as potential pathogenicity factors, and of the rodent reservoir-vector populations and their geographical distributions, is necessary for the development of accurate diagnostics and effective therapeutics and vaccines against this deadly human viral pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Murphy
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Comparative & Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Comparative & Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
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22
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Stein DR, Warner BM, Audet J, Soule G, Siragam V, Sroga P, Griffin BD, Leung A, Grolla A, Tierney K, Albietz A, Kobasa D, Musa AS, Ahmad A, Akinpelu AM, Mba N, Rosenke R, Scott DP, Saturday G, Ihekweazu C, Safronetz D. Differential pathogenesis of closely related 2018 Nigerian outbreak clade III Lassa virus isolates. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009966. [PMID: 34634087 PMCID: PMC8530337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nigeria continues to experience ever increasing annual outbreaks of Lassa fever (LF). The World Health Organization has recently declared Lassa virus (LASV) as a priority pathogen for accelerated research leading to a renewed international effort to develop relevant animal models of disease and effective countermeasures to reduce LF morbidity and mortality in endemic West African countries. A limiting factor in evaluating medical countermeasures against LF is a lack of well characterized animal models outside of those based on infection with LASV strain Josiah originating form Sierra Leone, circa 1976. Here we genetically characterize five recent LASV isolates collected from the 2018 outbreak in Nigeria. Three isolates were further evaluated in vivo and despite being closely related and from the same spatial / geographic region of Nigeria, only one of the three isolates proved lethal in strain 13 guinea pigs and non-human primates (NHP). Additionally, this isolate exhibited atypical pathogenesis characteristics in the NHP model, most notably respiratory failure, not commonly described in hemorrhagic cases of LF. These results suggest that there is considerable phenotypic heterogeneity in LASV infections in Nigeria, which leads to a multitude of pathogenesis characteristics that could account for differences between subclinical and lethal LF infections. Most importantly, the development of disease models using currently circulating LASV strains in West Africa are critical for the evaluation of potential vaccines and medical countermeasures. Lassa fever is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever of humans caused by infection with Lassa virus, which is endemic in many countries in West Africa. Annually, an estimated 300,000–500,000 people are infected with Lassa virus, making it one of the most prominent agents responsible for hemorrhagic disease in humans. Despite this significant burden of disease, to date, no approved therapeutic or prophylactic vaccine exists for Lassa fever, due in part to a lack of characterized animal models for studying the disease. Here, we describe guinea pig and non-human primate models for Lassa fever using recently isolated viruses from a 2018 outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Despite similar collection locations and dates, the isolates obtained from human infections demonstrated a high degree of genotypic heterogeneity and phenotypic characteristics in animal models resulting in both lethal and non-lethal infections. Of interest, one isolate resulted in significant respiratory manifestations, an under-reported disease manifestation in humans. These models will provide comparative models to those already characterized and aid in elucidating disease characteristics of Lassa fever. In addition, they will serve the immediate purpose of evaluating known and novel medical countermeasures to treat and prevent disease in West Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek R. Stein
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Bryce M. Warner
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Jonathan Audet
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Geoff Soule
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Vinayakumar Siragam
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Patrycja Sroga
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Bryan D. Griffin
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Anders Leung
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Allen Grolla
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Kevin Tierney
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Alix Albietz
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Darwyn Kobasa
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | | - Adama Ahmad
- Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Nwando Mba
- Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Rebecca Rosenke
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton Montana, United States of America
| | - Dana P. Scott
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton Montana, United States of America
| | - Greg Saturday
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton Montana, United States of America
| | | | - David Safronetz
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- * E-mail:
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23
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Pereira GJDS, Leão AHFF, Erustes AG, Morais IBDM, Vrechi TADM, Zamarioli LDS, Pereira CAS, Marchioro LDO, Sperandio LP, Lins ÍVF, Piacentini M, Fimia GM, Reckziegel P, Smaili SS, Bincoletto C. Pharmacological Modulators of Autophagy as a Potential Strategy for the Treatment of COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4067. [PMID: 33920748 PMCID: PMC8071111 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The family of coronaviruses (CoVs) uses the autophagy machinery of host cells to promote their growth and replication; thus, this process stands out as a potential target to combat COVID-19. Considering the different roles of autophagy during viral infection, including SARS-CoV-2 infection, in this review, we discuss several clinically used drugs that have effects at different stages of autophagy. Among them, we mention (1) lysosomotropic agents, which can prevent CoVs infection by alkalinizing the acid pH in the endolysosomal system, such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, artemisinins, two-pore channel modulators and imatinib; (2) protease inhibitors that can inhibit the proteolytic cleavage of the spike CoVs protein, which is necessary for viral entry into host cells, such as camostat mesylate, lopinavir, umifenovir and teicoplanin and (3) modulators of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways, such as rapamycin, heparin, glucocorticoids, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (IECAs) and cannabidiol. Thus, this review aims to highlight and discuss autophagy-related drugs for COVID-19, from in vitro to in vivo studies. We identified specific compounds that may modulate autophagy and exhibit antiviral properties. We hope that research initiatives and efforts will identify novel or "off-label" drugs that can be used to effectively treat patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, reducing the risk of mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo José da Silva Pereira
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Anderson Henrique França Figueredo Leão
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Adolfo Garcia Erustes
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Ingrid Beatriz de Melo Morais
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Talita Aparecida de Moraes Vrechi
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Lucas dos Santos Zamarioli
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Cássia Arruda Souza Pereira
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Laís de Oliveira Marchioro
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Letícia Paulino Sperandio
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Ísis Valeska Freire Lins
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Mauro Piacentini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS ‘La Zaro Spallanzani’, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Gian Maria Fimia
- Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS ‘La Zaro Spallanzani’, 00149 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Patrícia Reckziegel
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Soraya Soubhi Smaili
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Claudia Bincoletto
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil; (A.H.F.F.L.); (A.G.E.); (I.B.d.M.M.); (T.A.d.M.V.); (L.d.S.Z.); (C.A.S.P.); (L.d.O.M.); (L.P.S.); (Í.V.F.L.); (P.R.); (S.S.S.); (C.B.)
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24
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Abass OA, Timofeev VI, Sarkar B, Onobun DO, Ogunsola SO, Aiyenuro AE, Aborode AT, Aigboje AE, Omobolanle BN, Imolele AG, Abiodun AA. Immunoinformatics analysis to design novel epitope based vaccine candidate targeting the glycoprotein and nucleoprotein of Lassa mammarenavirus (LASMV) using strains from Nigeria. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:7283-7302. [PMID: 33719908 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1896387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Lassa mammarenavirus (LASMV) is responsible for a specific type of acute viral hemorrhagic fever known as Lassa fever. Lack of effective treatments and counter-measures against the virus has resulted in a high mortality rate in its endemic regions. Therefore, in this study, a novel epitope-based vaccine has been designed using the methods of immunoinformatics targeting the glycoprotein and nucleoprotein of the virus. After numerous robust analyses, two CTL epitopes, eight HTL epitopes and seven B-cell epitopes were finally selected for constructing the vaccine. All these most promising epitopes were found to be antigenic, non-allergenic, nontoxic and non-human homolog, which made them suitable for designing the subunit vaccine. Furthermore, the selected T-cell epitopes which were found to be fully conserved across different isolates of the virus, were also considered for final vaccine construction. After that, numerous validation experiments, i.e. molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and immune simulation were conducted, which predicted that our designed vaccine should be stable within the biological environment and effective in combating the LASMV infection. In the end, codon adaptation and in silico cloning studies were performed to design a recombinant plasmid for producing the vaccine industrially. However, further in vitro and in vivo assessments should be done on the constructed vaccine to finally confirm its safety and efficacy.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ohilebo Abdulateef Abass
- Department of Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Centre for BioCode, Benin, Nigeria.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | - Vladimir I Timofeev
- Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography of Federal Scientific Research Centre "Crystallography and Photonics" of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Bishajit Sarkar
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Desmond Odiamehi Onobun
- Department of Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Centre for BioCode, Benin, Nigeria.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Abdullahi Tunde Aborode
- Research & Development, Shaping Women in STEM (SWIS) Africa, Lagos, Nigeria.,Research & Development, Healthy Africans Platform, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | | | | | - Alade Adebowale Abiodun
- Bio-Computing Research Unit, Molecular Biology & Simulations (Mols & Sims) Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
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25
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Wang M, Li R, Li Y, Yu C, Chi X, Wu S, Liu S, Xu J, Chen W. Construction and Immunological Evaluation of an Adenoviral Vector-Based Vaccine Candidate for Lassa Fever. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030484. [PMID: 33804206 PMCID: PMC8001012 DOI: 10.3390/v13030484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a rodent-borne arenavirus circulating in West African regions that causes Lassa fever (LF). LF is normally asymptomatic at the initial infection stage, but can progress to severe disease with multiorgan collapse and hemorrhagic fever. To date, the therapeutic choices are limited, and there is no approved vaccine for avoiding LASV infection. Adenoviral vector-based vaccines represent an effective countermeasure against LASV because of their safety and adequate immunogenicity, as demonstrated in use against other emerging viral infections. Here, we constructed and characterized a novel Ad5 (E1-, E3-) vectored vaccine containing the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) of LASV. Ad5-GPCLASV elicited both humoral and cellular immune responses in BALB/c mice. Moreover, a bioluminescent imaging-based BALB/c mouse model infected with GPC-bearing and luciferase-expressing replication-incompetent LASV pseudovirus was utilized to evaluate the vaccine efficacy. The bioluminescence intensity of immunized mice was significantly lower than that of control mice after being inoculated with LASV pseudovirus. This study suggests that Ad5-GPCLASV represents a potential vaccine candidate against LF.
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26
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Akpogheneta O, Dicks S, Grant D, Kanneh Z, Jusu B, Edem-Hotah J, Kanneh L, Alhasan F, Gbakie M, Schieffelin J, Ijaz S, Tedder R, Bower H. Boosting understanding of Lassa Fever virus epidemiology: Field testing a novel assay to identify past Lassa Fever virus infection in blood and oral fluids of survivors and unexposed controls in Sierra Leone. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009255. [PMID: 33788861 PMCID: PMC8041174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite identification 50 years ago, the true burden of Lassa Fever (LF) across Africa remains undefined for reasons including research focus on hospitalised patients, lack of validated field-feasible tools which reliably identify past infection, and the fact that all assays require blood samples making large-scale surveys difficult. Designated a priority pathogen of epidemic potential requiring urgent research by the World Health Organisation, a better understanding of LF sero-epidemiology is essential to developing and evaluating new interventions including vaccines. We describe the first field testing of a novel species-neutral Double Antigen Binding Assay (DABA) designed to detect antibodies to LF in plasma and oral fluid. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Paired plasma and oral fluid were collected in Sierra Leone from survivors discharged from Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Unit between 1980 and 2018, and from controls recruited in Freetown in 2019. Epidemiological sensitivity and specificity of the DABA measured against historical diagnosis in survivors and self-declared non-exposed controls was 81.7% (95% CI 70.7%- 89.9%) and 83.3% (72.7%- 91.1%) respectively in plasma, and 71.8% (60.0%- 81.9%) and 83.3% (72.7%- 91.1%) respectively in oral fluid. Antibodies were identified in people infected up to 15 years and, in one case, 40 years previously. Participants found oral fluid collection easy and painless with 80% happy to give an oral fluid sample regularly. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Given the difficulties of assay validation in a resource-limited setting, including unexpected exposures and diagnostics of varying accuracy, the new assay performed well in both plasma and oral fluid. Sensitivity and specificity are expected to be higher when case/control ascertainment is more definitive and further work is planned to investigate this. Even at the performance levels achieved, the species-neutral DABA has the potential to facilitate the large-scale seroprevalence surveys needed to underpin essential developments in LF control, as well as support zoonotic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onome Akpogheneta
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Dicks
- Blood Borne Virus Unit, Public Health England, Colindale, United Kingdom
- Microbiology Services, NHS Blood and Transplant, London, United Kingdom
| | - Donald Grant
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Unit, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Zainab Kanneh
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Unit, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Brima Jusu
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Unit, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Joseph Edem-Hotah
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Unit, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Foday Alhasan
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Unit, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Michael Gbakie
- Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Unit, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - John Schieffelin
- Sections of Infectious Disease, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Samreen Ijaz
- Blood Borne Virus Unit, Public Health England, Colindale, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Tedder
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hilary Bower
- UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine/Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
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Johnson DM, Cubitt B, Pfeffer TL, de la Torre JC, Lukashevich IS. Lassa Virus Vaccine Candidate ML29 Generates Truncated Viral RNAs Which Contribute to Interfering Activity and Attenuation. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020214. [PMID: 33573250 PMCID: PMC7912207 DOI: 10.3390/v13020214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Defective interfering particles (DIPs) are naturally occurring products during virus replication in infected cells. DIPs contain defective viral genomes (DVGs) and interfere with replication and propagation of their corresponding standard viral genomes by competing for viral and cellular resources, as well as promoting innate immune antiviral responses. Consequently, for many different viruses, including mammarenaviruses, DIPs play key roles in the outcome of infection. Due to their ability to broadly interfere with viral replication, DIPs are attractive tools for the development of a new generation of biologics to target genetically diverse and rapidly evolving viruses. Here, we provide evidence that in cells infected with the Lassa fever (LF) vaccine candidate ML29, a reassortant that carries the nucleoprotein (NP) and glycoprotein (GP) dominant antigens of the pathogenic Lassa virus (LASV) together with the L polymerase and Z matrix protein of the non-pathogenic genetically related Mopeia virus (MOPV), L-derived truncated RNA species are readily detected following infection at low multiplicity of infection (MOI) or in persistently-infected cells originally infected at high MOI. In the present study, we show that expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by a tri-segmented form of the mammarenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (r3LCMV-GFP/GFP) was strongly inhibited in ML29-persistently infected cells, and that the magnitude of GFP suppression was dependent on the passage history of the ML29-persistently infected cells. In addition, we found that DIP-enriched ML29 was highly attenuated in immunocompetent CBA/J mice and in Hartley guinea pigs. Likewise, STAT-1-/- mice, a validated small animal model for human LF associated hearing loss sequelae, infected with DIP-enriched ML29 did not exhibit any hearing abnormalities throughout the observation period (62 days).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan M. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
- Correspondence: (D.M.J.); (I.S.L.)
| | - Beatrice Cubitt
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (B.C.); (J.C.d.l.T.)
| | - Tia L. Pfeffer
- Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 402042, USA
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (B.C.); (J.C.d.l.T.)
| | - Igor S. Lukashevich
- Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 402042, USA
- Correspondence: (D.M.J.); (I.S.L.)
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28
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Lingas G, Rosenke K, Safronetz D, Guedj J. Lassa viral dynamics in non-human primates treated with favipiravir or ribavirin. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008535. [PMID: 33411731 PMCID: PMC7817048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever is an haemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus (LASV). There is no vaccine approved against LASV and the only recommended antiviral treatment relies on ribavirin, despite limited evidence of efficacy. Recently, the nucleotide analogue favipiravir showed a high antiviral efficacy, with 100% survival obtained in an otherwise fully lethal non-human primate (NHP) model of Lassa fever. However the mechanism of action of the drug is not known and the absence of pharmacokinetic data limits the translation of these results to the human setting. Here we aimed to better understand the antiviral effect of favipiravir by developping the first mathematical model recapitulating Lassa viral dynamics and treatment. We analyzed the viral dynamics in 24 NHPs left untreated or treated with ribavirin or favipiravir, and we put the results in perspective with those obtained with the same drugs in the context of Ebola infection. Our model estimates favipiravir EC50 in vivo to 2.89 μg.mL-1, which is much lower than what was found against Ebola virus. The main mechanism of action of favipiravir was to decrease virus infectivity, with an efficacy of 91% at the highest dose. Based on our knowledge acquired on the drug pharmacokinetics in humans, our model predicts that favipiravir doses larger than 1200 mg twice a day should have the capability to strongly reduce the production infectious virus and provide a milestone towards a future use in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyle Rosenke
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - David Safronetz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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29
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Tang H, Abouleila Y, Mashaghi A. Lassa hemorrhagic shock syndrome-on-a-chip. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 118:1405-1410. [PMID: 33241859 PMCID: PMC7983903 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Lack of experimental human models hinders research on Lassa hemorrhagic fever and the development of treatment strategies. Here, we report the first chip-based model for Lassa hemorrhagic syndrome. The chip features a microvessel interfacing collagen network as a simple mimic for extracellular matrix, allowing for quantitative and real-time vascular integrity assessment. Luminal infusion of Lassa virus-like particles led to a dramatic increase in vascular permeability in a viral load-dependent manner. Using this platform, we showed that Fibrin-derived peptide FX06 can be used to suppress the vascular integrity loss. This simple chip-based model proved promising in the assessment of disease severity and provides an easy-to-use platform for future investigation of Lassa pathogenesis and drug development in a human-like setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqi Tang
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yasmine Abouleila
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alireza Mashaghi
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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30
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Abdullahi IN, Anka AU, Ghamba PE, Onukegbe NB, Amadu DO, Salami MO. Need for preventive and control measures for Lassa fever through the One Health strategic approach. PROCEEDINGS OF SINGAPORE HEALTHCARE 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/2010105820932616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) has increasingly been recognised as a significant public-health pathogen transmitted by rodents. LASV infection leads to life-threatening Lassa fever, which has high potential for severe morbidity and mortality. There have been several scientific efforts to understand the genomics and ecological epidemiology of Lassa. However, very limited studies have focused on the short- and long-term impacts of environmental factors, human behaviours and rodent activities on LASV transmission dynamics and control. Recently, a very plausible and ideal way to address the Lassa epidemic has been considered through the One Health approach. The One Health system of intervention is capable of providing better and comprehensive information necessary to address the complex interplay between human, ecological, and environmental determinants of LASV transmission, persistence and re-emergence. Thus, the aim of this article was to review critically the impacts of various environmental factors on rodent infestations, LASV transmission and how human activities contribute to the persistence of Lassa with regard to exploring how they could be harnessed for better understanding of Lassa prevention and control through a concerted One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idris Nasir Abdullahi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
| | - Abubakar Umar Anka
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
| | - Peter Elisha Ghamba
- WHO National Polio Reference Laboratory, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
| | | | - Dele Ohinoyi Amadu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
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31
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Kainulainen MH, Spengler JR, Welch SR, Coleman-McCray JD, Harmon JR, Scholte FEM, Goldsmith CS, Nichol ST, Albariño CG, Spiropoulou CF. Protection From Lethal Lassa Disease Can Be Achieved Both Before and After Virus Exposure by Administration of Single-Cycle Replicating Lassa Virus Replicon Particles. J Infect Dis 2020; 220:1281-1289. [PMID: 31152662 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever is a frequently severe human disease that is endemic to several countries in West Africa. To date, no licensed vaccines are available to prevent Lassa virus (LASV) infection, even though Lassa fever is thought to be an important disease contributing to mortality and both acute and chronic morbidity. We have previously described a vaccine candidate composed of single-cycle LASV replicon particles (VRPs) and a stable cell line for their production. Here, we refine the genetic composition of the VRPs and demonstrate the ability to reproducibly purify them with high yields. Studies in the guinea pig model confirm efficacy of the vaccine candidate, demonstrate that single-cycle replication is necessary for complete protection by the VRP vaccine, and show that postexposure vaccination can confer protection from lethal outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Cynthia S Goldsmith
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Sebastian S, Flaxman A, Cha KM, Ulaszewska M, Gilbride C, Sharpe H, Wright E, Spencer AJ, Dowall S, Hewson R, Gilbert S, Lambe T. A Multi-Filovirus Vaccine Candidate: Co-Expression of Ebola, Sudan, and Marburg Antigens in a Single Vector. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E241. [PMID: 32455764 PMCID: PMC7349952 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the infectious diseases field, protective immunity against individual virus species or strains does not always confer cross-reactive immunity to closely related viruses, leaving individuals susceptible to disease after exposure to related virus species. This is a significant hurdle in the field of vaccine development, in which broadly protective vaccines represent an unmet need. This is particularly evident for filoviruses, as there are multiple family members that can cause lethal haemorrhagic fever, including Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, and Marburg virus. In an attempt to address this need, both pre-clinical and clinical studies previously used mixed or co-administered monovalent vaccines to prevent filovirus mediated disease. However, these multi-vaccine and multi-dose vaccination regimens do not represent a practical immunisation scheme when considering the target endemic areas. We describe here the development of a single multi-pathogen filovirus vaccine candidate based on a replication-deficient simian adenoviral vector. Our vaccine candidate encodes three different filovirus glycoproteins in one vector and induces strong cellular and humoral immunity to all three viral glycoproteins after a single vaccination. Crucially, it was found to be protective in a stringent Zaire ebolavirus challenge in guinea pigs in a one-shot vaccination regimen. This trivalent filovirus vaccine offers a tenable vaccine product that could be rapidly translated to the clinic to prevent filovirus-mediated viral haemorrhagic fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Sebastian
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
- Current address: Vaccitech Ltd., Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, UK
| | - Amy Flaxman
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Kuan M. Cha
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Marta Ulaszewska
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Ciaran Gilbride
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Hannah Sharpe
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Edward Wright
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QG, UK;
| | - Alexandra J. Spencer
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Stuart Dowall
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK; (S.D.); (R.H.)
| | - Roger Hewson
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK; (S.D.); (R.H.)
| | - Sarah Gilbert
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Teresa Lambe
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (S.S.); (A.F.); (K.M.C.); (M.U.); (C.G.); (H.S.); (A.J.S.); (S.G.)
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Meeting report: WHO consultation on accelerating Lassa fever vaccine development in endemic countries, Dakar, 10–11 September 2019. Vaccine 2020; 38:4135-4141. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Ibukun FI. Inter-Lineage Variation of Lassa Virus Glycoprotein Epitopes: A Challenge to Lassa Virus Vaccine Development. Viruses 2020; 12:v12040386. [PMID: 32244402 PMCID: PMC7232328 DOI: 10.3390/v12040386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), which causes considerable morbidity and mortality annually, has a high genetic diversity across West Africa. LASV glycoprotein (GP) expresses this diversity, but most LASV vaccine candidates utilize only the Lineage IV LASV Josiah strain GP antigen as an immunogen and homologous challenge with Lineage IV LASV. In addition to the sequence variation amongst the LASV lineages, these lineages are also distinguished in their presentations. Inter-lineage variations within previously mapped B-cell and T-cell LASV GP epitopes and the breadth of protection in LASV vaccine/challenge studies were examined critically. Multiple alignments of the GP primary sequence of strains from each LASV lineage showed that LASV GP has diverging degrees of amino acid conservation within known epitopes among LASV lineages. Conformational B-cell epitopes spanning different sites in GP subunits were less impacted by LASV diversity. LASV GP diversity should influence the approach used for LASV vaccine design. Expression of LASV GP on viral vectors, especially in its prefusion configuration, has shown potential for protective LASV vaccines that can overcome LASV diversity. Advanced vaccine candidates should demonstrate efficacy against all LASV lineages for evidence of a pan-LASV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Ifedayo Ibukun
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21201, MD, USA
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35
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Asogun DA, Günther S, Akpede GO, Ihekweazu C, Zumla A. Lassa Fever: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis, Management and Prevention. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2020; 33:933-951. [PMID: 31668199 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Lassa fever outbreaks West Africa have caused up to 10,000 deaths annually. Primary infection occurs from contact with Lassa virus-infected rodents and exposure to their excreta, blood, or meat. Incubation takes 2 to 21 days. Symptoms are difficult to distinguish from malaria, typhoid, dengue, yellow fever, and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic, to mild, to severe fulminant disease. Ribavirin can improve outcomes. Overall mortality is between 1% and 15%. Lassa fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis with travel to West Africa. There is an urgent need for rapid field-friendly diagnostics and preventive vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny A Asogun
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria; Department of Public Health, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 008, Kilometre 87, Benin City-Auchi Road, Irrua, Nigeria.
| | - Stephan Günther
- Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Strab 74, Hamburg 20359, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - George O Akpede
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | - Chikwe Ihekweazu
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Plot 801, Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Alimuddin Zumla
- Center for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, Royal Free Campus 2nd Floor, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
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36
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Wauquier N, Couffignal C, Manchon P, Smith E, Lungay V, Coomber M, Weisenfluh L, Bangura J, Khan SH, Jambai A, Gbakima A, Yun N, Paessler S, Schoepp R, Morse SS, Gonzalez JP, Fair J, Mentré F, Vieillard V. High heart rate at admission as a predictive factor of mortality in hospitalized patients with Lassa fever: An observational cohort study in Sierra Leone. J Infect 2020; 80:671-693. [PMID: 32027872 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Wauquier
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1135, CNRS ERL 8255, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France; Metabiota Inc., Silver Spring and San Francisco, United States
| | - Camille Couffignal
- AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat, IAME, Inserm UMR 1137, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Pauline Manchon
- AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat, IAME, Inserm UMR 1137, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Moinya Coomber
- Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone
| | - Lauren Weisenfluh
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Amara Jambai
- Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Nadezda Yun
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Randal Schoepp
- U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
| | - Stephen S Morse
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Joseph Fair
- Metabiota Inc., Silver Spring and San Francisco, United States
| | - France Mentré
- AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat, IAME, Inserm UMR 1137, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Vieillard
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1135, CNRS ERL 8255, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France.
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Sayed SB, Nain Z, Khan MSA, Abdulla F, Tasmin R, Adhikari UK. Exploring Lassa Virus Proteome to Design a Multi-epitope Vaccine Through Immunoinformatics and Immune Simulation Analyses. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020; 26:2089-2107. [PMID: 32421065 PMCID: PMC7223894 DOI: 10.1007/s10989-019-10003-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is responsible for a type of acute viral haemorrhagic fever referred to as Lassa fever. Lack of adequate treatment and preventive measures against LASV resulted in a high mortality rate in its endemic regions. In this study, a multi-epitope vaccine was designed using immunoinformatics as a prophylactic agent against the virus. Following a rigorous assessment, the vaccine was built using T-cell (NCTL = 8 and NHTL = 6) and B-cell (NLBL = 4) epitopes from each LASV-derived protein in addition with suitable linkers and adjuvant. The physicochemistry, immunogenic potency and safeness of the designed vaccine (~ 68 kDa) were assessed. In addition, chosen CTL and HTL epitopes of our vaccine showed 97.37% worldwide population coverage. Besides, disulphide engineering also improved the stability of the chimeric vaccine. Molecular docking of our vaccine protein with toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) showed binding efficiency followed by dynamics simulation for stable interaction. Furthermore, higher levels of cell-mediated immunity and rapid antigen clearance were suggested by immune simulation and repeated-exposure simulation, respectively. Finally, the optimized codons were used in in silico cloning to ensure higher expression within E. coli K12 bacterium. With further assessment both in vitro and in vivo, we believe that our proposed peptide-vaccine would be potential immunogen against Lassa fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sifat Bin Sayed
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, 7003 Bangladesh
| | - Zulkar Nain
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, 7003 Bangladesh
| | - Md Shakil Ahmed Khan
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, 7003 Bangladesh
| | - Faruq Abdulla
- 2Department of Statistics, Faculty of Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, 7003 Bangladesh
| | - Rubaia Tasmin
- 3Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, 7003 Bangladesh
| | - Utpal Kumar Adhikari
- 4School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560 Australia
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Krubiner CB, Schwartz DA. Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in Pregnant Women and the Vaccine Landscape: Comparisons Between Yellow Fever, Ebola, and Lassa Fever. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-019-00194-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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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] [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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Garnett LE, Strong JE. Lassa fever: With 50 years of study, hundreds of thousands of patients and an extremely high disease burden, what have we learned? Curr Opin Virol 2019; 37:123-131. [PMID: 31479990 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Garnett
- Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada; Departments of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - James E Strong
- Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada; Departments of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Departments of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
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Salami K, Gouglas D, Schmaljohn C, Saville M, Tornieporth N. A review of Lassa fever vaccine candidates. Curr Opin Virol 2019; 37:105-111. [PMID: 31472333 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the Lassa virus, a rodent-borne arenavirus endemic to West Africa. Recent steady increase in reported cases of the disease in Nigeria, where 123 deaths occurred in 546 confirmed cases in 2019 has further underlined the need to accelerate the development of vaccines for preventing the disease. Intensified research and development of Lassa fever medical countermeasures have yielded some vaccine candidates with preclinical scientific plausibility using predominantly novel technology. The more advanced candidates are based on recombinant measles, Vesicular Stomatitis Virus or Mopiea and Lassa virus reassortants expressing Lassa virus antigens, and the deoxyribonucleic acid platform. However, the Lassa fever portfolio still lags behind other neglected tropical diseases', and further investments are needed for continued development and additional research, such as the safety and efficacy of these vaccine candidates in special populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kolawole Salami
- R & D Blueprint for the Prevention of Epidemics, Room 3170, World Health Organization Headquarters, 20, Avenue Appia, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Dimitrios Gouglas
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Marcus Thranes Gate 2, 0473 Oslo, Norway
| | - Connie Schmaljohn
- U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Melanie Saville
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Rd, Bloomsbury, London NW1 2BE, UK.
| | - Nadia Tornieporth
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Rd, Bloomsbury, London NW1 2BE, UK
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A Single Dose of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Expressing Lassa Virus-like Particles Protects Mice from Lethal Intra-cerebral Virus Challenge. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8030133. [PMID: 31466243 PMCID: PMC6789566 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8030133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever surpasses Ebola, Marburg, and all other hemorrhagic fevers except Dengue in its public health impact. Caused by Lassa virus (LASV), the disease is a scourge on populations in endemic areas of West Africa, where reported incidence is higher. Here, we report construction, characterization, and preclinical efficacy of a novel recombinant vaccine candidate GEO-LM01. Constructed in the Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector, GEO-LM01 expresses the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) and zinc-binding matrix protein (Z) from the prototype Josiah strain lineage IV. When expressed together, GP and Z form Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) in cell culture. Immunogenicity and efficacy of GEO-LM01 was tested in a mouse challenge model. A single intramuscular dose of GEO-LM01 protected 100% of CBA/J mice challenged with a lethal dose of ML29, a Mopeia/Lassa reassortant virus, delivered directly into the brain. In contrast, all control animals died within one week. The vaccine induced low levels of antibodies but Lassa-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. This is the first report showing that a single dose of a replication-deficient MVA vector can confer full protection against a lethal challenge with ML29 virus.
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Tang-Huau TL, Feldmann H, Rosenke K. Animal models for Lassa virus infection. Curr Opin Virol 2019; 37:112-117. [PMID: 31442921 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In humans, Lassa virus infection can result in disease with hemorrhagic manifestations and high fatality rates. There are no approved treatments or vaccines available and the inherent danger of studying Lassa virus means it can only be studied in high containment labs (BSL4). Under these conditions, mouse models are becoming an important instrument in the study of Lassa virus infection, disease and host responses. While guinea pigs and non-human primates are the critical components in assessing treatments and vaccines and have recently been used with great affect in this capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsing-Lee Tang-Huau
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - H Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - K Rosenke
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA.
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Beitzel B, Hulseberg CE, Palacios G. Reverse genetics systems as tools to overcome the genetic diversity of Lassa virus. Curr Opin Virol 2019; 37:91-96. [PMID: 31357141 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lassa virus is endemic in a large area of sub-Saharan Africa, and exhibits a large amount of genetic diversity. Of the four currently recognized lineages, lineages I-III circulate in Nigeria, and lineage IV circulates in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. However, several newly detected lineages have been proposed. LASV genetic diversity may result in differences in pathogenicity or response to medical countermeasures, necessitating the testing of multiple lineages during the development of countermeasures and diagnostics. Logistical and biosafety concerns can make it difficult to obtain representative collections of divergent LASV clades for comparison studies. For example, lack of a cold chain in remote areas, or shipping restrictions on live viruses can prevent the dissemination of natural virus isolates to researchers. Reverse genetics systems that have been developed for LASV can facilitate acquisition of hard-to-obtain LASV strains and enable comprehensive development of medical countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Beitzel
- Center for Genome Sciences, The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Disease, 1425 Porter St., Ft. Detrick, MD 21702, United States
| | - Christine E Hulseberg
- Center for Genome Sciences, The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Disease, 1425 Porter St., Ft. Detrick, MD 21702, United States
| | - Gustavo Palacios
- Center for Genome Sciences, The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Disease, 1425 Porter St., Ft. Detrick, MD 21702, United States.
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Takah NF, Brangel P, Shrestha P, Peeling R. Sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests for Lassa fever: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:647. [PMID: 31324229 PMCID: PMC6642489 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4242-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa fever virus has been enlisted as a priority pathogen of epidemic potential by the World Health organization Research and Development (WHO R & D) Blueprint. Diagnostics play a crucial role in epidemic preparedness. This systematic review was conducted to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Lassa fever diagnostic tests for humans. METHODS We searched OVID Medline, OVID Embase, Scopus and Web of Science for laboratory based and field studies that reported the performance of diagnostic tests for Lassa fever in humans from 1 January 1990 to 25 January 2019. Two reviewers independently screened all the studies and included only studies that involved the evaluation of a Lassa fever diagnostic test and provided data on the sensitivity and specificity. The quality of the studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 criteria. Data on the study location, study design, type of sample, index test, reference tests and diagnostic performance were extracted from the studies. RESULTS Out of a total of 1947 records identified, 1245 non-duplicate citations were obtained. Twenty-six (26) full-text articles examined which identified 08 studies meeting pre-defined criteria. Only one study was a field evaluation study. The sensitivity and specificity of the point of care (RDT) against the Nikisins qPCR were 91.2%(95% CI:75.2-97.7) and 86%(95% CI: 71.4-94.2) at temperatures 18-30 °C, while the sensitivity and specificity of the single IgM ELISA assay against standard RT-PCR were 31.1%(95%CI: 25.6-37) and 95.7%(95%CI:92.8-97.7). The sensitivity of the combined ELISA Antigen/IgM assay(against virus isolation), the recombinant IgM/IgG ELISA(against standard RT-PCR), and the IgM/IgG immunoblot(against IFA) were 88%(95%CI:77-95), 25.9%(95%CI:20.8-31.6), and 90.7%(95%CI:84.13-97.27) respectively. The specificity of the combined ELISA Antigen/IgM assay(against virus isolation), the recombinant IgM/IgG ELISA(against standard RT-PCR), and the IgM/IgG immunoblot(against IFA) were 90%(95%CI:88-91), 100%(95%CI:98.2-100), and 96.3%(95%CI:92.2-100) respectively. CONCLUSION Lassa fever has assays for antigenaemia, IgM, IgG and PCR detection. The RDT reportedly performed well but more data are needed from other countries and at temperatures above 30 °C. Most combined immunoassays perform better than the single IgM. Multiplex and pan-Lassa assays are needed. More well conducted field studies are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION Prospero registration number: CRD42018091585 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Fongwen Takah
- International Diagnostics Centre Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. .,International Diagnostics Centre, Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Polina Brangel
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Priyanka Shrestha
- International Diagnostics Centre, Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Rosanna Peeling
- International Diagnostics Centre, Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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Woyessa AB, Maximore L, Keller D, Dogba J, Pajibo M, Johnson K, Saydee E, Monday J, Tuopileyi R, Mahmoud N. Lesson learned from the investigation and response of Lassa fever outbreak, Margibi County, Liberia, 2018: case report. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:610. [PMID: 31296177 PMCID: PMC6624965 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4257-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus (LASV) and endemic in West African countries with an estimation of 300,000 to 500,000 cases and 5,000 deaths annually. The Margibi County Health Team of Liberia received a report of an unidentified febrile illness case from the Kakata district. We conducted the investigation to identify the causative agent and the source of infection to support treatment, control and prevention interventions. CASE PRESENTATION We identified LASV in the blood specimens' of two patients by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Both the confirmed cases have manifested respiratory distress, weakness, and difficulty of swallowing, muscle, joint and back pains, and vomiting with blood. The symptoms started with mild fever and gradually developed. Initially, the primary health facilities have miss-diagnosed the patients as malaria and respiratory tract infections. The primary health facilities have referred the patients to the referral hospital as the patients have failed to respond to antimalarial and antibiotics. The hospital suspected LF and sent blood specimens to the National Reference Laboratory while the patients were on supportive treatment in the isolation room. At the time when the laboratory result returned to the hospital, the patients died of LF illness before ribavirin administered. CONCLUSIONS Our investigation revealed that the two hospitalized and deceased febrile cases were associated with LASV. The primary health facilities have failed to recognize the cases as suspected LF at the earliest time possible. The clinicians and health facilities, especially primary health facilities, need to consider LF as a differential diagnosis when the patient failed to respond to anti-malaria and broad-spectrum antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Darius Keller
- World Health Organization Country Office for Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - John Dogba
- National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
| | | | | | | | - Julius Monday
- World Health Organization Country Office for Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Roland Tuopileyi
- World Health Organization Country Office for Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Nuha Mahmoud
- World Health Organization Country Office for Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
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Jiang J, Banglore P, Cashman KA, Schmaljohn CS, Schultheis K, Pugh H, Nguyen J, Humeau LM, Broderick KE, Ramos SJ. Immunogenicity of a protective intradermal DNA vaccine against lassa virus in cynomolgus macaques. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:2066-2074. [PMID: 31071008 PMCID: PMC6773375 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1616499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a hemorrhagic fever virus of the Arenaviridae family with high rates of mortality and co-morbidities, including chronic seizures and permanent bilateral or unilateral deafness. LASV is endemic in West Africa and Lassa fever accounts for 10-16% of hospitalizations annually in parts of Sierra Leone and Liberia according to the CDC. An ongoing outbreak in Nigeria has resulted in 144 deaths in 568 cases confirmed as LASV as of November 2018, with many more suspected, highlighting the urgent need for a vaccine to prevent this severe disease. We previously reported on a DNA vaccine encoding a codon-optimized LASV glycoprotein precursor gene, pLASV-GPC, which completely protects Guinea pigs and nonhuman primates (NHPs) against viremia, clinical disease, and death following lethal LASV challenge. Herein we report on the immunogenicity profile of the LASV DNA vaccine in protected NHPs. Antigen-specific binding antibodies were generated in 100% (6/6) NHPs after two immunizations with pLASV-GPC. These antibodies bound predominantly to the assembled LASV glycoprotein complex and had robust neutralizing activity in a pseudovirus assay. pLASV-GPC DNA-immunized NHPs (5/6) also developed T cell responses as measured by IFNγ ELISpot assay. These results revealed that the pLASV-GPC DNA vaccine is capable of generating functional, LASV-specific T cell and antibody responses, and the assays developed in this study will provide a framework to identify correlates of protection and characterize immune responses in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Jiang
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Preeti Banglore
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Kathleen A. Cashman
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Connie S. Schmaljohn
- Office of the Chief Scientists, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | | | - Holly Pugh
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Jacklyn Nguyen
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Laurent M. Humeau
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Kate E. Broderick
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie J. Ramos
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA,CONTACT Stephanie J. Ramos 10480 Wateridge Circle, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
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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] [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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49
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Vaccine platforms for the prevention of Lassa fever. Immunol Lett 2019; 215:1-11. [PMID: 31026485 PMCID: PMC7132387 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [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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50
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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] [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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