1
|
Li H, Pinette M, Smith G, Goolia M, Handel K, Nebroski M, Lung O, Pickering BS. Distinguishing host responses, extensive viral dissemination and long-term viral RNA persistence in domestic sheep experimentally infected with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus Kosovo Hoti. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2302103. [PMID: 38189080 PMCID: PMC10810640 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2302103] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne, risk group 4 pathogen that often causes a severe haemorrhagic disease in humans (CCHF) with high case fatality rates. The virus is believed to be maintained in a tick-vertebrate-tick ecological cycle involving numerous wild and domestic animal species; however the biology of CCHFV infection in these animals remains poorly understood. Here, we experimentally infect domestic sheep with CCHFV Kosovo Hoti, a clinical isolate representing high pathogenicity to humans and increasingly utilized in current research. In the absence of prominent clinical signs, the infection leads to an acute viremia and coinciding viral shedding, fever and markers for potential impairment in liver and kidney functions. A number of host responses distinguish the subclinical infection in sheep versus fatal infection in humans. These include an early reduction of neutrophil recruitment and its chemoattractant, IL-8, in the blood stream of infected sheep, whereas neutrophil infiltration and elevated IL-8 are features of fatal CCHFV infections reported in immunodeficient mice and humans. Several inflammatory cytokines that correlate with poor disease outcomes in humans and have potential to cause vascular dysfunction, a primary hallmark of severe CCHF, are down-regulated or restricted from increasing in sheep. Of particular interest, the detection of CCHFV RNA (including full-length genome) in a variety of sheep tissues long after the acute phase of infection indicates a widespread viral dissemination in the host and suggests a potentially long-term persisting impact of CCHFV infection. These findings reveal previously unrecognized aspects of CCHFV biology in animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhao Li
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Mathieu Pinette
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Greg Smith
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Melissa Goolia
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Katherine Handel
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Michelle Nebroski
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Oliver Lung
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Bradley S. Pickering
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hawman DW, Leventhal SS, Meade-White K, Khandhar A, Murray J, Lovaglio J, Shaia C, Saturday G, Hinkley T, Erasmus J, Feldmann H. A replicating RNA vaccine confers protection in a rhesus macaque model of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:86. [PMID: 38769294 PMCID: PMC11106275 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne febrile illness with a wide geographic distribution. In recent years the geographic range of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and its tick vector have increased, placing an increasing number of people at risk of CCHFV infection. Currently, there are no widely available vaccines, and although the World Health Organization recommends ribavirin for treatment, its efficacy is unclear. Here we evaluate a promising replicating RNA vaccine in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) model of CCHF. This model provides an alternative to the established cynomolgus macaque model and recapitulates mild-to-moderate human disease. Rhesus macaques infected with CCHFV consistently exhibit viremia, detectable viral RNA in a multitude of tissues, and moderate pathology in the liver and spleen. We used this model to evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a replicating RNA vaccine. Rhesus macaques vaccinated with RNAs expressing the CCHFV nucleoprotein and glycoprotein precursor developed robust non-neutralizing humoral immunity against the CCHFV nucleoprotein and had significant protection against the CCHFV challenge. Together, our data report a model of CCHF using rhesus macaques and demonstrate that our replicating RNA vaccine is immunogenic and protective in non-human primates after a prime-boost immunization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David W Hawman
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
| | - Shanna S Leventhal
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Kimberly Meade-White
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | | | - Justin Murray
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Jamie Lovaglio
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Carl Shaia
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Greg Saturday
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | | | | | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li H, Smith G, Goolia M, Marszal P, Pickering BS. Comparative characterization of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus cell culture systems with application to propagation and titration methods. Virol J 2023; 20:128. [PMID: 37337294 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02089-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus (CCHFV) is a biosafety level 4 and World Health Organization top priority pathogen. Infection leads to an often fatal hemorrhagic fever disease in humans. The tick-borne virus is endemic in countries across Asia, Europe and Africa, with signs of spreading into new regions. Despite the severity of disease and the potential of CCHFV geographic expansion to cause widespread outbreaks, no approved vaccine or treatment is currently available. Critical for basic research and the development of diagnostics or medical countermeasures, CCHFV viral stocks are commonly produced in Vero E6 and SW-13 cell lines. While a variety of in-house methods are being used across different laboratories, there has been no clear, specific consensus on a standard, optimal system for CCHFV growth and titration. In this study, we perform a systematic, side-by-side characterization of Vero E6 and SW-13 cell lines concerning the replication kinetics of CCHFV under different culture conditions. SW-13 cells are typically cultured in a CO2-free condition (SW-13 CO2-) according to the American Type Culture Collection. However, we identify a CO2-compatible culture condition (SW-13 CO2+) that demonstrates the highest viral load (RNA concentration) and titer (infectious virus concentration) in the culture supernatants, in comparison to SW-13 CO2- and Vero E6 cultures. This optimal viral propagation system also leads to the development of two titration methods: an immunostaining-based plaque assay using a commercial CCHFV antibody and a colorimetric readout, and an antibody staining-free, cytopathic effect-based median tissue culture infectious dose assay using a simple excel calculator. These are anticipated to serve as a basis for a reproducible, standardized and user-friendly platform for CCHFV propagation and titration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhao Li
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Greg Smith
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Melissa Goolia
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Peter Marszal
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Bradley S Pickering
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Transcriptome dataset of six human pathogen RNA viruses generated by nanopore sequencing. Data Brief 2022; 43:108386. [PMID: 35789906 PMCID: PMC9249600 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2022.108386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-read sequencing (LRS) approaches shed new light on the complexity of viral (Kakuk et al., 2021 [1]; Boldogkői et al., 2019 [2]; Depledge et a., 2019 [3]), bacterial (Yan et al., 2018 [4]) and eukaryotic (Tilgner et al., 2014 [5]) transcriptomes. Emerging RNA viruses are zoonotic (Woolhouse et al., 2016 [6]) and create public health problems, e.g. influenza pandemic caused by H1N1 virus in (Fraser et al., 2009 [7]), as well as the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (Kim et al., 2020 [8]). In this study, we carried out nanopore sequencing for generating transcriptomic data valuable for structural and kinetic profiling of six important human pathogen RNA viruses, the H1N1 subtype of Influenza A virus (IVA), the Zika virus (ZIKV), the West Nile virus (WNV), the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), the Coxsackievirus [group B serotype 5 (CVB5)] and the Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus (VSIV), and the response of host cells upon viral infection. The raw sequencing data were filtered during basecalling and only high quality reads (Qscore ≥ 7) were mapped to the appropriate viral and host genomes. Length distribution of sequencing reads were assessed and statistics of data were plotted by the ReadStat.4 python script. The datasets can be used to profile the transcriptomic landscape of RNA viruses, provide information for novel gene annotations, can serve as resource for studying the virus-host interactions, and for the analysis of RNA base modifications. These datasets can be used to compare the different sequencing techniques, library preparation approaches, bioinformatics pipelines, and to analyze the RNA profiles of viruses with small RNA genomes.
Collapse
|
5
|
Golden JW, Zeng X, Cline CR, Smith JM, Daye SP, Carey BD, Blancett CD, Shoemaker CJ, Liu J, Fitzpatrick CJ, Stefan CP, Garrison AR. The host inflammatory response contributes to disease severity in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infected mice. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010485. [PMID: 35587473 PMCID: PMC9119488 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an important human pathogen. In cell culture, CCHFV is sensed by the cytoplasmic RNA sensor retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) molecule and its adaptor molecule mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein. MAVS initiates both type I interferon (IFN-I) and proinflammatory responses. Here, we studied the role MAVS plays in CCHFV infection in mice in both the presence and absence of IFN-I activity. MAVS-deficient mice were not susceptible to CCHFV infection when IFN-I signaling was active and showed no signs of disease. When IFN-I signaling was blocked by antibody, MAVS-deficient mice lost significant weight, but were uniformly protected from lethal disease, whereas all control mice succumbed to infection. Cytokine activity in the infected MAVS-deficient mice was markedly blunted. Subsequent investigation revealed that CCHFV infected mice lacking TNF-α receptor signaling (TNFA-R-deficient), but not IL-6 or IL-1 activity, had more limited liver injury and were largely protected from lethal outcomes. Treatment of mice with an anti-TNF-α neutralizing antibody also conferred partial protection in a post-virus exposure setting. Additionally, we found that a disease causing, but non-lethal strain of CCHFV produced more blunted inflammatory cytokine responses compared to a lethal strain in mice. Our work reveals that MAVS activation and cytokine production both contribute to CCHFV pathogenesis, potentially identifying new therapeutic targets to treat this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W. Golden
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xiankun Zeng
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Curtis R. Cline
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey M. Smith
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sharon P. Daye
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brian D. Carey
- Diagnostic Services Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Candace D. Blancett
- Diagnostic Services Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Charles J. Shoemaker
- Diagnostic Services Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jun Liu
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Collin J. Fitzpatrick
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christopher P. Stefan
- Diagnostic Services Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Aura R. Garrison
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Földes F, Madai M, Papp H, Kemenesi G, Zana B, Geiger L, Gombos K, Somogyi B, Bock-Marquette I, Jakab F. Small Interfering RNAs Are Highly Effective Inhibitors of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Replication In Vitro. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235771. [PMID: 33297527 PMCID: PMC7731286 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is one of the prioritized diseases of the World Health Organization, considering its potential to create a public health emergency and, more importantly, the absence of efficacious drugs and/or vaccines for treatment. The highly pathogenic characteristic of CCHFV restricts research to BSL-4 laboratories, which complicates effective research and developmental strategies. In consideration of antiviral therapies, RNA interference can be used to suppress viral replication by targeting viral genes. RNA interference uses small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to silence genes. The aim of our study was to design and test siRNAs in vitro that inhibit CCHFV replication and can serve as a basis for further antiviral therapies. A549 cells were infected with CCHFV after transfection with the siRNAs. Following 72 h, nucleic acid from the supernatant was extracted for RT Droplet Digital PCR analysis. Among the investigated siRNAs we identified effective candidates against all three segments of the CCHF genome. Consequently, blocking any segment of CCHFV leads to changes in the virus copy number that indicates an antiviral effect of the siRNAs. In summary, we demonstrated the ability of specific siRNAs to inhibit CCHFV replication in vitro. This promising result can be integrated into future anti-CCHFV therapy developments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fanni Földes
- National Laboratory of Virology, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (F.F.); (M.M.); (H.P.); (G.K.); (B.Z.); (B.S.)
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Mónika Madai
- National Laboratory of Virology, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (F.F.); (M.M.); (H.P.); (G.K.); (B.Z.); (B.S.)
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Henrietta Papp
- National Laboratory of Virology, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (F.F.); (M.M.); (H.P.); (G.K.); (B.Z.); (B.S.)
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kemenesi
- National Laboratory of Virology, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (F.F.); (M.M.); (H.P.); (G.K.); (B.Z.); (B.S.)
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Brigitta Zana
- National Laboratory of Virology, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (F.F.); (M.M.); (H.P.); (G.K.); (B.Z.); (B.S.)
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Lili Geiger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (L.G.); (K.G.)
| | - Katalin Gombos
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (L.G.); (K.G.)
| | - Balázs Somogyi
- National Laboratory of Virology, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (F.F.); (M.M.); (H.P.); (G.K.); (B.Z.); (B.S.)
| | - Ildikó Bock-Marquette
- Regenerative Science, Sport and Medicina Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary;
| | - Ferenc Jakab
- National Laboratory of Virology, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (F.F.); (M.M.); (H.P.); (G.K.); (B.Z.); (B.S.)
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-72-501-668 (ext. 29044)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Identification of functional epitopes of structural proteins and in-silico designing of dual acting multiepitope anti-tick vaccine against emerging Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 151:105396. [PMID: 32479862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Recurrent outbreaks of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus infection in different parts of world are a major global health concern. The CCHF viral infection is associated with severe hemorrhagic fevers and mortality up to 40%. More than 30 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa are affected with CCHF infection. Prevention of infection through vaccine becomes more important when no effective antiviral and associated therapies are available. Further ticks play a crucial role in maintenance and transmission of CCHFV. Therefore, the control of transmission by ticks is warranted for ultimate prevention of outbreak. The study employed a series of immunoinformatics approaches to design novel multiepitope vaccine targeting highly immunodominant epitopes of major structural proteins (Nucleoprotein and Glycoprotein complex) of CCHFV. Vaccine was designed by incorporating linear and conformational B cell, helper and cytotoxic T cell epitopes from these crucial immunogenic proteins adjoined with appropriate linkers and adjuvant. This vaccine construct was also complemented with a highly immunogenic and conserved protective tick salivary antigen named subolesin to impart dual activity as a unique transmission blocking vaccine. The B-cell peptides were also experimentally validated. The designed vaccine was further in silico validated for its physiochemical properties, allergenicity and immunogenicity etc. The proposed candidate vaccine construct has the potential to function both as a vaccine against CCHF virus as well as a universal anti-tick vaccine.
Collapse
|
8
|
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection triggers the upregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor genes. Virus Genes 2020; 56:508-514. [PMID: 32335793 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-020-01759-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a highly pathogenic agent. Thus far, vaccines and specific antiviral therapies are not available against the threat of infection. Our knowledge regarding its pathogenesis is indeed limited, and thus, developing effective antiviral therapies is hampered. Several studies have demonstrated that the CCHFV infection has an impact on numerous signal transduction pathways. In parallel, the Wnt signaling pathway components are responsible for different important biological processes including cell fate determination, cell migration and cell polarity. Moreover, its implication among several virus infections has been proven, yet little is known in reference to which components of the Wnt pathway are being activated/inhibited as a response to the infection. Our aim was to elicit the influence of the CCHFV infection on adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells in vitro regarding the Wnt signaling pathway-related genes. Gene-expression changes of 92 Wnt-associated genes were examined 48 h post-infection. Furthermore, β-catenin levels were compared in the infected and uninfected cells. Significant changes were observed in the case of 13 genes. The majority of the upregulated genes are associated with the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Additionally, infected cells expressed less β-catenin. Our findings suggest that CCHFV blocks the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our study corroborates the link between CCHFV infection and the Wnt signaling pathways. In addition, it broadens our knowledge in the CCHFV pathomechanism.
Collapse
|
9
|
Persistent Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection in the testes and within granulomas of non-human primates with latent tuberculosis. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008050. [PMID: 31557262 PMCID: PMC6782109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most medically important tick-borne viral disease of humans and tuberculosis is the leading cause of death worldwide by a bacterial pathogen. These two diseases overlap geographically, however, concurrent infection of CCHF virus (CCHFV) with mycobacterial infection has not been assessed nor has the ability of virus to persist and cause long-term sequela in a primate model. In this study, we compared the disease progression of two diverse strains of CCHFV in the recently described cynomolgus macaque model. All animals demonstrated signs of clinical illness, viremia, significant changes in clinical chemistry and hematology values, and serum cytokine profiles consistent with CCHF in humans. The European and Asian CCHFV strains caused very similar disease profiles in monkeys, which demonstrates that medical countermeasures can be evaluated in this animal model against multiple CCHFV strains. We identified evidence of CCHFV persistence in the testes of three male monkeys that survived infection. Furthermore, the histopathology unexpectedly revealed that six additional animals had evidence of a latent mycobacterial infection with granulomatous lesions. Interestingly, CCHFV persisted within the granulomas of two animals. This study is the first to demonstrate the persistence of CCHFV in the testes and within the granulomas of non-human primates with concurrent latent tuberculosis. Our results have important public health implications in overlapping endemic regions for these emerging pathogens. CCHF is an emerging tick-borne viral disease that is endemic across much of Africa and Asia, and parts of Europe where its range and exposure risk to human populations is expanding. Tuberculosis threatens millions of lives world-wide and is the leading cause of death due to a bacterial pathogen. Concurrent mycobacterial infection with other infectious diseases has been described, but not for CCHFV despite the geographic overlap of these two pathogens. During our study we unexpectedly determined that some of the animals had latent tuberculosis and that CCHFV can persist within the granulomas. Furthermore, our study provides the first direct evidence that CCHFV can replicate and persist in the male genital tract, which has important implications for human sexual transmission. The ability of viral RNA to persist in immune-privileged sites or fluids has been described with increasing frequency for other emerging infectious diseases and can cause a burden on public health. This provides the impetus to utilize the model described here to better understand the mechanisms of CCHFV persistence and its effect on the development of long-term sequelae.
Collapse
|
10
|
Földes F, Madai M, Németh V, Zana B, Papp H, Kemenesi G, Bock-Marquette I, Horváth G, Herczeg R, Jakab F. Serologic survey of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infection among wild rodents in Hungary. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:101258. [PMID: 31302067 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne pathogen, which causes an increasing number of severe infections in many parts of Africa, Asia and in Europe. The virus is primarily transmitted by ticks, however, the spectrum of natural hosts regarding CCHFV includes a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. Although the presence of CCHFV was hypothesized in Hungary, data in support of CCHFV prevalence has thus far, proven insufficient. In the present study, rodents belonging to four species, the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), the striped field mouse (A. agrarius), the wood mouse (A. sylvaticus) and the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), were all systematically trapped in the Mecsek Mountain region (Southwest Hungary), from 2011 through 2013. Rodent sera were collected and screened for CCHFV antibodies with dot-blot pre-screening and immunofluorescence assay. Among the 2085 tested rodents, 20 (0.96%) were positive for IgG antibody against CCHFV. Seroprevalence was the highest (1.25%) in A. flavicollis serum samples. Distinctly, we now provide the first data regarding CCHFV occurrence and seroprevalence among wild rodents in Hungary. This observation represents a need for large-scale surveillance to effectively assess the enzootic background and the potential public health risk of CCHFV in Hungary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fanni Földes
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Mónika Madai
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória Németh
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Oncodermatology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Brigitta Zana
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Henrietta Papp
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kemenesi
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Bock-Marquette
- Genomics and Experimental Cardiology Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Győző Horváth
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Róbert Herczeg
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Jakab
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Garrison AR, Smith DR, Golden JW. Animal Models for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Human Disease. Viruses 2019; 11:E590. [PMID: 31261754 PMCID: PMC6669593 DOI: 10.3390/v11070590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an important tick-borne human pathogen endemic throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. CCHFV is also an emerging virus, with recent outbreaks in Western Europe. CCHFV can infect a large number of wild and domesticated mammalian species and some avian species, however the virus does not cause severe disease in these animals, but can produce viremia. In humans, CCHFV infection can lead to a severe, life-threating disease characterized by hemodynamic instability, hepatic injury and neurological disorders, with a worldwide lethality rate of ~20-30%. The pathogenic mechanisms of CCHF are poorly understood, largely due to the dearth of animal models. However, several important animal models have been recently described, including novel murine models and a non-human primate model. In this review, we examine the current knowledge of CCHF-mediated pathogenesis and describe how animal models are helping elucidate the molecular and cellular determinants of disease. This information should serve as a reference for those interested in CCHFV animal models and their utility for evaluation of medical countermeasures (MCMs) and in the study of pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aura R Garrison
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA.
- Mailing address: Virology Division, USAMRIID, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Darci R Smith
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA.
- Mailing address: Virology Division, USAMRIID, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Joseph W Golden
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA.
- Mailing address: Virology Division, USAMRIID, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hawman DW, Haddock E, Meade-White K, Williamson B, Hanley PW, Rosenke K, Komeno T, Furuta Y, Gowen BB, Feldmann H. Favipiravir (T-705) but not ribavirin is effective against two distinct strains of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in mice. Antiviral Res 2018; 157:18-26. [PMID: 29936152 PMCID: PMC11093520 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 06/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a cause of serious hemorrhagic disease in humans. Humans infected with CCHFV develop a non-specific febrile illness and then progress to the hemorrhagic phase where case fatality rates can be as high as 30%. Currently there is lack of vaccines and the recommended antiviral treatment, ribavirin, has inconsistent efficacy in both human and animal studies. In this study we developed a model of CCHFV infection in type I interferon deficient mice using the clinical CCHFV isolate strain Hoti. Mice infected with strain Hoti develop a progressively worsening and ultimately fatal disease. We utilized this model along with our established model using the prototypical CCHFV strain 10200 to evaluate treatment with ribavirin or the antiviral favipiravir. While ribavirin treatment was able to suppress viral loads at early time points it was ultimately unable to prevent development of terminal disease in mice infected with either strain of CCHFV. In contrast, favipiravir showed clinical benefit even when administered late in the clinical progression of CCHF. Interestingly, in a small subset of mice, late-onset of CCHF was observed after favipiravir treatment was stopped and persistence of viral RNA in favipiravir treated survivors was also seen. Nevertheless, favipiravir showed significant clinical benefit against two distinct strains of CCHFV suggesting it may be a potent antiviral for treatment of human CCHFV infections.
Collapse
|
13
|
Haddock E, Feldmann F, Hawman DW, Zivcec M, Hanley PW, Saturday G, Scott DP, Thomas T, Korva M, Avšič-Županc T, Safronetz D, Feldmann H. A cynomolgus macaque model for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:556-562. [PMID: 29632370 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0141-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most medically significant tick-borne disease, being widespread in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and parts of Europe 1 . Increasing case numbers, westerly movement and broadly ranging case fatality rates substantiate the concern of CCHF as a public health threat. Ixodid ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the vector for CCHF virus (CCHFV), an arbovirus in the genus Orthonairovirus of the family Nairoviridae. CCHFV naturally infects numerous wild and domestic animals via tick bite without causing obvious disease2,3. Severe disease occurs only in humans and transmission usually happens through tick bite or contact with infected animals or humans. The only CCHF disease model is a subset of immunocompromised mice4-6. Here, we show that following CCHFV infection, cynomolgus macaques exhibited hallmark signs of human CCHF with remarkably similar viral dissemination, organ pathology and disease progression. Histopathology showed infection of hepatocytes, endothelial cells and monocytes and fatal outcome seemed associated with endothelial dysfunction manifesting in a clinical shock syndrome with coagulopathy. This non-human primate model will be an invaluable asset for CCHFV countermeasures development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Haddock
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Friederike Feldmann
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - David W Hawman
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Marko Zivcec
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Patrick W Hanley
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Greg Saturday
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Dana P Scott
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Tina Thomas
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Miša Korva
- Laboratory for Diagnostics of Zoonoses and WHO Centre, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tatjana Avšič-Županc
- Laboratory for Diagnostics of Zoonoses and WHO Centre, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - David Safronetz
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.,Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Rahpeyma M, Samarbaf-Zadeh A, Makvandi M, Ghadiri AA, Dowall SD, Fotouhi F. Expression and characterization of codon-optimized Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus Gn glycoprotein in insect cells. Arch Virol 2017; 162:1951-1962. [PMID: 28316015 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-017-3315-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a major cause of tick-borne viral hemorrhagic disease in the world. Despite of its importance as a deadly pathogen, there is currently no licensed vaccine against CCHF disease. The attachment glycoprotein of CCHFV (Gn) is a potentially important target for protective antiviral immune responses. To characterize the expression of recombinant CCHFV Gn in an insect-cell-based system, we developed a gene expression system expressing the full-length coding sequence under a polyhedron promoter in Sf9 cells using recombinant baculovirus. Recombinant Gn was purified by affinity chromatography, and the immunoreactivity of the protein was evaluated using sera from patients with confirmed CCHF infection. Codon-optimized Gn was successfully expressed, and the product had the expected molecular weight for CCHFV Gn glycoprotein of 37 kDa. In time course studies, the optimum expression of Gn occurred between 36 and 48 hours postinfection. The immunoreactivity of the recombinant protein in Western blot assay against human sera was positive and was similar to the results obtained with the anti-V5 tag antibody. Additionally, mice were subjected to subcutaneous injection with recombinant Gn, and the cellular and humoral immune response was monitored. The results showed that recombinant Gn protein was highly immunogenic and could elicit high titers of antigen-specific antibodies. Induction of the inflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma and the regulatory cytokine IL-10 was also detected. In conclusion, a recombinant baculovirus harboring CCHFV Gn was constructed and expressed in Sf9 host cells for the first time, and it was demonstrated that this approach is a suitable expression system for producing immunogenic CCHFV Gn protein without any biosafety concerns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Rahpeyma
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.,Department of Virology, WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Institute, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Samarbaf-Zadeh
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Manoochehr Makvandi
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ata A Ghadiri
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Stuart D Dowall
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Fatemeh Fotouhi
- Department of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Institute, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Schuster I, Chaintoutis SC, Dovas CI, Groschup MH, Mertens M. Detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus-specific IgG antibodies in ruminants residing in Central and Western Macedonia, Greece. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:494-498. [PMID: 28286143 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne virus which causes lethal hemorrhagic fever in humans. Although, several reports regarding CCHFV antibody prevalence in humans exist in Greece, information about the current distribution is limited. The aim of the present study is to investigate the prevalence of CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies in cattle and sheep in Macedonia-Greece. The samplings were performed during spring 2013, in 5 regional units of Central Macedonia (Chalkidiki, Imathia, Kilkis, Pella and Thessaloniki) and in the 4 regional units of Western Macedonia (Grevena, Florina, Kastoria and Kozani). Specifically, sera from 538 cattle and 81 sheep underwent testing against CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies. Antiviral immune responses were observed in 31 cattle (6%, 95% CI: 4-8%) and in one sheep (1%, 95% CI: 0-8%). The total seroprevalence in the cattle sampled in Central Macedonia was 7% (28 out of 396, 95% CI: 5-10%). Within Central Macedonia, the highest seroprevalence was detected in Chalkidiki (38%, 95% CI: 23-56%), which was significantly higher (p<0.01) compared to the overall seroprevalence detected in cattle. In Western Macedonia, the total seroprevalence in cattle was 2% (3 out of 142, 95% CI: 1-7%). The 3 seropositive cattle were residing in the regional unit of Grevena. The one IgG-positive sheep serum was obtained from an animal residing in Thessaloniki. In this regional unit, the prevalence in sheep (2%, 95% CI: 0-10%) was much lower compared to the prevalence in cattle (12%, 95% CI: 6-22%), but significance was not achieved (p=0.03). The here presented seroepidemiological study demonstrates high transmission risk to human in specific geographical areas, which should be communicated to national and local public health authorities, so as to intensify preventive measures for public health protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isolde Schuster
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Serafeim C Chaintoutis
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Chrysostomos I Dovas
- Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Marc Mertens
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Schuster I, Mertens M, Köllner B, Korytář T, Keller M, Hammerschmidt B, Müller T, Tordo N, Marianneau P, Mroz C, Rissmann M, Stroh E, Dähnert L, Hammerschmidt F, Ulrich RG, Groschup MH. A competitive ELISA for species-independent detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus specific antibodies. Antiviral Res 2016; 134:161-166. [PMID: 27623345 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) circulates in many countries of Asia, Africa, and Europe. CCHFV can cause a severe hemorrhagic fever in humans with case-fatality rates of up to 80%. CCHF is considered to be one of the major emerging diseases spreading to and within Europe. Ticks of the genus Hyalomma function as vector as well as natural reservoir of CCHFV. Ticks feed on various domestic animals (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats) and on wildlife (e.g. hares, hedgehogs). Those animal species play an important role in the life cycle of the ticks as well as in amplification of CCHFV. Here we present a competitive ELISA (cELISA) for the species-independent detection of CCHFV-specific antibodies. For this purpose nucleocapsid (N) protein specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated against an Escherichia coli (E. coli) expressed CCHFV N-protein. Thirty-three mAbs reacted with homologous and heterologous recombinant CCHFV antigens in ELISA and Western blot test and 20 of those 33 mAbs reacted additionally in an immunofluorescence assay with eukaryotic cells expressing the N-protein. Ten mAbs were further characterized in a prototype of the cELISA and nine of them competed with positive control sera of bovine origin. The cELISA was established by using the mAb with the strongest competition. For the validation, 833 sera from 12 animal species and from humans were used. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the cELISA was determined to be 95% and 99%, respectively, and 2% of the sera gave inconclusive results. This cELISA offers the possibility for future large-scale screening approaches in various animal species to evaluate their susceptibility to CCHFV infection and to identify and monitor the occurrence of CCHFV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isolde Schuster
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Marc Mertens
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Bernd Köllner
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Tomáš Korytář
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Markus Keller
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Bärbel Hammerschmidt
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Noël Tordo
- Unit Antiviral Strategies Antivirales, WHO Collaborative Centre for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Arboviruses, OIE Reference Laboratory for RVFV and CCHFV, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Claudia Mroz
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Melanie Rissmann
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Eileen Stroh
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Lisa Dähnert
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Felicitas Hammerschmidt
- Chair of Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dayer MR, Dayer MS, Rezatofighi SE. Mechanism of preferential packaging of negative sense genomic RNA by viral nucleoproteins in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic Fever virus. Protein J 2016; 34:91-102. [PMID: 25632888 PMCID: PMC7087998 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-015-9601-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an infectious disease of high virulence and mortality caused by a negative sense RNA nairovirus. The genomic RNA of CCHFV is enwrapped by its nucleoprotein. Positively charged residues on CCHFV nucleoprotein provide multiple binding sites to facilitate genomic RNA encapsidation. In the present work, we investigated the mechanism underlying preferential packaging of the negative sense genomic RNA by CCHFV nucleoprotein in the presence of host cell RNAs during viral assembly. The work included genome sequence analyses for different families of negative and positive sense RNA viruses, using serial docking experiments and molecular dynamic simulations. Our results indicated that the main determinant parameter of the nucleoprotein binding affinity for negative sense RNA is the ratio of purine/pyrimidine in the RNA molecule. A negative sense RNA with a purine/pyrimidine ratio (>1) higher than that of a positive sense RNA (<1) exhibits higher affinity for the nucleoprotein. Our calculations revealed that a negative sense RNA expresses about 0.5 kJ/mol higher binding energy per nucleotide compared to a positive sense RNA. This energy difference produces a binding energy high enough to make the negative sense RNA, the preferred substrate for packaging by CCHFV nucleoprotein in the presence of cellular or complementary positive sense RNAs. The outcome of this study may contribute to ongoing researches on other viral diseases caused by negative sense RNA viruses such as Ebola virus which poses a security threat to all humanity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Dayer
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran,
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Champour M, Chinikar S, Mohammadi G, Razmi G, Mostafavi E, Shah-Hosseini N, Khakifirouz S, Jalali T. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in the One-Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in East and Northeast of Iran. J Arthropod Borne Dis 2016; 10:168-77. [PMID: 27308275 PMCID: PMC4906756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2013] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This comprehensive study was conducted on multi-purpose one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) sera and ticks to assess the epidemiological aspects of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in northeast Iran. METHODS From May 2012 to January 2013, eleven cities were randomly selected in the Khorasan Provinces of Iran as "clusters," and at least 14 one-humped camels were sampled from each area. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of the CCHFV genome in ticks. Sera were analyzed using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests. RESULTS Four hundred and eighty ixodid ticks were collected, and the genome of the CCHFV was detected in 49 (10.2%) out of 480 ticks. The CCHFV genome was detected in two out of four tick species, and in tick samples from three cities in Khorassan-e-Jonoobi. All three provinces, and six out of eleven cities, were CCHFV-specific IgG-positive. In total, nine (5.3%) out of 170 one-humped camels were IgG-positive. The highest rate of IgG-positive samples was found in Nehbandan (16.67%). CONCLUSION Continued surveillance and strictly enforced importation and quarantine practices should be implemented to prevent human exposure and the on-going dispersal of infected ticks and livestock in these regions. It is recommended that acaricides be used to prevent CCHF transmission to humans, and to reduce the tick population. In addition, care should be taken by abattoirs workers and people who work with one-humped camels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Champour
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sadegh Chinikar
- Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory (National Reference Lab) Pasteur Institute of Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Mohammadi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran,Corresponding author: Dr Gholamreza Mohammadi, E-mail:
| | - Gholamreza Razmi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ehsan Mostafavi
- Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory (National Reference Lab) Pasteur Institute of Tehran, Iran
| | - Nariman Shah-Hosseini
- Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory (National Reference Lab) Pasteur Institute of Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Khakifirouz
- Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory (National Reference Lab) Pasteur Institute of Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahmineh Jalali
- Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory (National Reference Lab) Pasteur Institute of Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Goedhals D, Bester PA, Paweska JT, Swanepoel R, Burt FJ. Comparative analysis of the L, M, and S RNA segments of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus isolates from southern Africa. J Med Virol 2015; 87:717-24. [PMID: 25693737 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a member of the Bunyaviridae family with a tripartite, negative sense RNA genome. This study used predictive software to analyse the L (large), M (medium), and S (small) segments of 14 southern African CCHFV isolates. The OTU-like cysteine protease domain and the RdRp domain of the L segment are highly conserved among southern African CCHFV isolates. The M segment encodes the structural glycoproteins, GN and GC, and the non-structural glycoproteins which are post-translationally cleaved at highly conserved furin and subtilase SKI-1 cleavage sites. All of the sites previously identified were shown to be conserved among southern African CCHFV isolates. The heavily O-glycosylated N-terminal variable mucin-like domain of the M segment shows the highest sequence variability of the CCHFV proteins. Five transmembrane domains are predicted in the M segment polyprotein resulting in three regions internal to and three regions external to the membrane across the G(N), NS(M) and G(C) glycoproteins. The corroboration of conserved genome domains and sequence identity among geographically diverse isolates may assist in the identification of protein function and pathogenic mechanisms, as well as the identification of potential targets for antiviral therapy and vaccine design. As detailed functional studies are lacking for many of the CCHFV proteins, identification of functional domains by prediction of protein structure, and identification of amino acid level similarity to functionally characterised proteins of related viruses or viruses with similar pathogenic mechanisms are a necessary step for selection of areas for further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Goedhals
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, National Health Laboratory Service/University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Fajs L, Humolli I, Saksida A, Knap N, Jelovšek M, Korva M, Dedushaj I, Avšič-Županc T. Prevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in healthy population, livestock and ticks in Kosovo. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110982. [PMID: 25393542 PMCID: PMC4230912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an acute, tick borne disease often associated with hemorrhagic presentations and high case fatality rate. Kosovo is a highly endemic area for CCHF, with a significant case fatality rate. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of CCHF in Kosovo. We tested 1105 serum samples from healthy population in both endemic and non-endemic areas in the country. Our results revealed a seroprevalence of 4.0% (range 0-9.3%) which is comparable to the seroprevalence in other countries. We show that seroprevalence is correlated to the disease incidence in each studied municipality. We also tested 401 animal sera (353 cow, 30 sheep, 10 goat and 8 chicken) in four endemic municipalities in Kosovo. We detected specific antibodies in all animals except in chicken. Seroprevalence in cows is comparable to other endemic areas and correlates to the seroprevalence in humans. No CCHF RNA could be detected in 105 tick samples obtained in 2012 and 2013. Sequencing of CCHFV positive ticks from 2001 revealed that the virus is most closely related to viral strains that were detected in CCHF patients from Kosovo. Results suggest that mild CCHF cases are most probably underdiagnosed and consequently that the burden of disease is higher than reported. Our study provides key information for CCHF surveillance and raises awareness for possible imported cases in CCHF non-endemic countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luka Fajs
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Isme Humolli
- National Institute of Public Health in Kosovo, Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Ana Saksida
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nataša Knap
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mateja Jelovšek
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miša Korva
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Isuf Dedushaj
- National Institute of Public Health in Kosovo, Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Tatjana Avšič-Županc
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Next-generation sequencing of southern African Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus isolates reveals a high frequency of M segment reassortment. Epidemiol Infect 2014; 142:1952-62. [PMID: 24786748 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268814000818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a bunyavirus with a single-stranded RNA genome consisting of three segments (S, M, L), coding for the nucleocapsid protein, envelope glycoproteins and RNA polymerase, respectively. To date only five complete genome sequences are available from southern African isolates. Complete genome sequences were generated for 10 southern African CCHFV isolates using next-generation sequencing techniques. The maximum-likelihood method was used to generate tree topologies for 15 southern African plus 26 geographically distinct complete sequences from GenBank. M segment reassortment was identified in 10/15 southern African isolates by incongruencies in grouping compared to the S and L segments. These reassortant M segments cluster with isolates from Asia/Middle East, while the S and L segments cluster with strains from South/West Africa. The CCHFV M segment shows a high level of genetic diversity, while the S and L segments appear to co-evolve. The reason for the high frequency of M segment reassortment is not known. It has previously been suggested that M segment reassortment results in a virus with high fitness but a clear role in increased pathogenicity has yet to be shown.
Collapse
|
22
|
Molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus detected from ticks of one humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) population in northeastern Iran. J Parasit Dis 2014; 40:110-5. [PMID: 27065608 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-014-0458-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive study was conducted on camel ticks to assess the epidemiological aspects of the infection in camels. From May 2012 to January 2013, 11 cities and towns from the Khorasan provinces, northeastern Iran, were randomly selected as a "cluster" and at least 14 camels were sampled from each cluster. A total of 200 camels were examined in this study, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) genome. Tick infestation was observed in 171 of the 200 camels, 480 ixodid ticks were collected, and one genus was identified as Hyalomma. Four species were reported to be the major tick species infesting camels. Among these, Hyalomma dromedarii was the most predominant tick species (90.7 %), followed by H. anatolicum (6 %), H. marginatum (2.9 %), and H. asiaticum (0.4 %). The genome of the CCHFV was detected in 49 (10.2 %) of the 480 ticks. The CCHFV RNA was detected in two of the four tick species, and the viral genome was detected from tick samples in three South Khorasan cities. The positivity rate of ticks was as follows: Boshroyeh, 25 out of 480 (5.2 %); Birjand, 17 out of 480 (3.5 %); and Nehbandan, 7 out of 480 (1.5 %). We recommend the use of acaricides to prevent disease transmission to humans and to reduce the tick population in camels. Care should be taken by abattoir workers and by those who work closely with camels.
Collapse
|
23
|
Molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Kosovo. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2647. [PMID: 24416468 PMCID: PMC3886908 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a zoonotic agent that causes severe, life-threatening disease, with a case fatality rate of 10–50%. It is the most widespread tick-borne virus in the world, with cases reported in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. CCHFV is a genetically diverse virus. Its genetic diversity is often correlated to its geographical origin. Genetic variability of CCHFV was determined within few endemic areas, however limited data is available for Kosovo. Furthermore, there is little information about the spatiotemporal genetic changes of CCHFV in endemic areas. Kosovo is an important endemic area for CCHFV. Cases were reported each year and the case-fatality rate is significantly higher compared to nearby regions. In this study, we wanted to examine the genetic variability of CCHFV obtained directly from CCHF-confirmed patients, hospitalized in Kosovo from 1991 to 2013. We sequenced partial S segment CCHFV nucleotide sequences from 89 patients. Our results show that several viral variants are present in Kosovo and that the genetic diversity is high in relation to the studied area. We also show that variants are mostly uniformly distributed throughout Kosovo and that limited evolutionary changes have occurred in 22 years. Our results also suggest the presence of a new distinct lineage within the European CCHF phylogenetic clade. Our study provide the largest number of CCHFV nucleotide sequences from patients in 22 year span in one endemic area. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an acute, tick-borne disease with a case fatality rate of 10–30%. It is geographically the most widespread tick-borne disease in the world. In recent years there has been an increase of the disease incidence in several countries, mainly in the countries of the Balkan. The disease is also endemic in Kosovo. Since CCHF virus is very genetically diverse we aimed to determine the genetic variability of the virus in Kosovo in the span of 22 years. We obtained the largest number of patient derived nucleotide sequences and found great genetic variability which has been more or less stable during the 22 year period. Our results also suggest that significant changes in viral population occur in different years. We show that ecological factors such as temperature could play a role in the composition of the viral population.
Collapse
|
24
|
Petrova ID, Kononova YV, Chausov EV, Shestopalov AM, Tishkova FH. Genetic variants of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus circulating in endemic areas of Southern Tajikistan in 2009. MOLECULAR GENETICS, MICROBIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY 2013. [DOI: 10.3103/s0891416813030063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
25
|
Fajs L, Resman K, Avšič-Županc T. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus nucleoprotein suppresses IFN-beta-promoter-mediated gene expression. Arch Virol 2013; 159:345-8. [PMID: 23990053 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-013-1816-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a member of the family Bunyaviridae and is a causative agent of severe hemorrhagic disease. Knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of CCHFV is limited due to the requirement for high-containment laboratories and the lack of an immunocompetent animal host. Previous studies have shown that CCHFV delays the activation of the human innate immune response, specifically, the type I interferon response. Our study results show that antagonism of the interferon-beta promoter is mediated by the nucleoprotein of CCHFV strain Hoti, while strains IbAr10200 and AP92 do not suppress the activity of the IFN-beta promoter. Our results also suggest that several viral factors may provide antagonistic action against the type I interferon response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luka Fajs
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhou Z, Deng F, Han N, Wang H, Sun S, Zhang Y, Hu Z, Rayner S. Reassortment and migration analysis of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. J Gen Virol 2013; 94:2536-2548. [PMID: 23939975 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.056374-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne virus with high pathogenicity to humans. CCHFV contains a three-segment [small (S), medium (M) and large (L)] genome and is prone to reassortment. Investigation of identified reassortment events can yield insight into the evolutionary history of the virus, while migration events reflect its geographical dissemination. While many studies have already considered these issues, they have investigated small numbers of isolates and lack statistical support for their findings. Here, we consider a larger set of 30 full genomes to investigate reassortment using recombination methods, as well as two sets of partial S segments comprising 393 isolates, reflecting a broader geographical range, to investigate migration events. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the S segment showed strong geographical subdivision, but this was less apparent in the M and L segments. A total of 16 reassortment events with 22 isolates were identified with strong statistical support. Migration analysis on the partial S segments identified both long- and short-range migration events that spanned the entire geographical region in which the CCHFV has been isolated, reflecting the complex processes associated with the dissemination of the virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaorui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and China Center for Virus Culture Collection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and China Center for Virus Culture Collection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Na Han
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and China Center for Virus Culture Collection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Hualin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and China Center for Virus Culture Collection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Surong Sun
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumuqi, Xinjiang 830046, PR China
| | - Yujiang Zhang
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 4 Jianquan First Street, Urumuqi, Xinjiang 830046, PR China
| | - Zhihong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and China Center for Virus Culture Collection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Simon Rayner
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and China Center for Virus Culture Collection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bente DA, Forrester NL, Watts DM, McAuley AJ, Whitehouse CA, Bray M. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: history, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical syndrome and genetic diversity. Antiviral Res 2013; 100:159-89. [PMID: 23906741 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 523] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most important tick-borne viral disease of humans, causing sporadic cases or outbreaks of severe illness across a huge geographic area, from western China to the Middle East and southeastern Europe and throughout most of Africa. CCHFV is maintained in vertical and horizontal transmission cycles involving ixodid ticks and a variety of wild and domestic vertebrates, which do not show signs of illness. The virus circulates in a number of tick genera, but Hyalomma ticks are the principal source of human infection, probably because both immature and adult forms actively seek hosts for the blood meals required at each stage of maturation. CCHF occurs most frequently among agricultural workers following the bite of an infected tick, and to a lesser extent among slaughterhouse workers exposed to the blood and tissues of infected livestock and medical personnel through contact with the body fluids of infected patients. CCHFV is the most genetically diverse of the arboviruses, with nucleotide sequence differences among isolates ranging from 20% for the viral S segment to 31% for the M segment. Viruses with diverse sequences can be found within the same geographic area, while closely related viruses have been isolated in far distant regions, suggesting that widespread dispersion of CCHFV has occurred at times in the past, possibly by ticks carried on migratory birds or through the international livestock trade. Reassortment among genome segments during co-infection of ticks or vertebrates appears to have played an important role in generating diversity, and represents a potential future source of novel viruses. In this article, we first review current knowledge of CCHFV, summarizing its molecular biology, maintenance and transmission, epidemiology and geographic range. We also include an extensive discussion of CCHFV genetic diversity, including maps of the range of the virus with superimposed phylogenetic trees. We then review the features of CCHF, including the clinical syndrome, diagnosis, treatment, pathogenesis, vaccine development and laboratory animal models of CCHF. The paper ends with a discussion of the possible future geographic range of the virus. For the benefit of researchers, we include a Supplementary Table listing all published reports of CCHF cases and outbreaks in the English-language literature, plus some principal articles in other languages, with total case numbers, case fatality rates and all CCHFV strains on GenBank.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis A Bente
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Oncü S. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: an overview. Virol Sin 2013; 28:193-201. [PMID: 23913177 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-013-3327-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral infection that is a serious threat to humans. The disease is widely distributed in Africa, Asia, and Europe and has developed into a serious public health concern. Humans become infected through the bites of ticks, by contact with a patient with CCHF, or by contact with blood or tissues from viremic livestock. Microvascular instability and impaired hemostasis are the hallmarks of the infection. Infection in human begins with nonspecific febrile symptoms, but may progress to a serious hemorrhagic syndrome with high mortality rates. Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are the most used and specific tests for the diagnosis. The mainstay of treatment is supportive. Although definitive studies are not available, ribavirin is suggested to be effective especially at the earlier phase of the infection. Uses of universal protective measures are the best way to avoid the infection. In this review, all aspects of CCHF are overviewed in light of the current literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serkan Oncü
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Adnan Menderes University Medical Faculty, Aydin 09100, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Filippone C, Marianneau P, Murri S, Mollard N, Avsic-Zupanc T, Chinikar S, Desprès P, Caro V, Gessain A, Berthet N, Tordo N. Molecular diagnostic and genetic characterization of highly pathogenic viruses: application during Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus outbreaks in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Clin Microbiol Infect 2012; 19:E118-28. [PMID: 23240764 PMCID: PMC3663000 DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Several haemorrhagic fevers are caused by highly pathogenic viruses that must be handled in Biosafety level 4 (BSL–4) containment. These zoonotic infections have an important impact on public health and the development of a rapid and differential diagnosis in case of outbreak in risk areas represents a critical priority. We have demonstrated the potential of a DNA resequencing microarray (PathogenID v2.0) for this purpose. The microarray was first validated in vitro using supernatants of cells infected with prototype strains from five different families of BSL-4 viruses (e.g. families Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Filoviridae, Flaviviridae and Paramyxoviridae). RNA was amplified based on isothermal amplification by Phi29 polymerase before hybridization. We were able to detect and characterize Nipah virus and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in the brains of experimentally infected animals. CCHFV was finally used as a paradigm for epidemics because of recent outbreaks in Turkey, Kosovo and Iran. Viral variants present in human sera were characterized by BLASTN analysis. Sensitivity was estimated to be 105–106 PFU/mL of hybridized cDNA. Detection specificity was limited to viral sequences having ∼13–14% of global divergence with the tiled sequence, or stretches of ∼20 identical nucleotides. These results highlight the benefits of using the PathogenID v2.0 resequencing microarray to characterize geographical variants in the follow-up of haemorrhagic fever epidemics; to manage patients and protect communities; and in cases of bioterrorism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Filippone
- Institut Pasteur, Unit of Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Oncogenic Viruses, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Capodagli GC, McKercher MA, Baker EA, Masters EM, Brunzelle JS, Pegan SD. Structural analysis of a viral ovarian tumor domain protease from the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in complex with covalently bonded ubiquitin. J Virol 2011; 85:3621-30. [PMID: 21228232 PMCID: PMC3067871 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02496-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is a tick-borne, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA [ssRNA(-)] nairovirus that produces fever, prostration, and severe hemorrhages in humans. With fatality rates for CCHF ranging up to 70% based on several factors, CCHF is considered a dangerous emerging disease. Originally identified in the former Soviet Union and the Congo, CCHF has rapidly spread across large sections of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Recent reports have identified a viral homologue of the ovarian tumor protease superfamily (vOTU) within its L protein. This protease has subsequently been implicated in downregulation of the type I interferon immune response through cleavage of posttranslational modifying proteins ubiquitin (Ub) and the Ub-like interferon-simulated gene 15 (ISG15). Additionally, homologues of vOTU have been suggested to perform similar roles in the positive-sense, single-stranded RNA [ssRNA(+)] arteriviruses. By utilizing X-ray crystallographic techniques, the structure of vOTU covalently bound to ubiquitin propylamine, a suicide substrate of the enzyme, was elucidated to 1.7 Å, revealing unique structural elements that define this new subclass of the OTU superfamily. In addition, kinetic studies were carried out with aminomethylcoumarin (AMC) conjugates of monomeric Ub, ISG15, and NEDD8 (neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 8) substrates in order to provide quantitative insights into vOTU's preference for Ub and Ub-like substrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Glenn C. Capodagli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Marissa A. McKercher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Erica A. Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Emily M. Masters
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Joseph S. Brunzelle
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Scott D. Pegan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne infectious disease characterized by fever, malaise, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat, muscle aches, haemorrhage and thrombocytopenia. It is a challenge for the population of endemic rural areas, and for healthcare workers, and carries a considerable mortality. The disease is widely distributed in Africa, Europe and Asia, and has become a serious threat to public health in Eurasia. The intention of this review is to summarize the current status of CCHF in Eurasia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hakan Leblebicioglu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Medical School, Samsun, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Hatipoglu CA, Bulut C, Yetkin MA, Ertem GT, Erdinc FS, Kilic EK, Sari T, Kinikli S, Oral B, Demiroz AP. Evaluation of clinical and laboratory predictors of fatality in patients with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in a tertiary care hospital in Turkey. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 42:516-21. [DOI: 10.3109/00365540903582418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
|
33
|
Mild M, Simon M, Albert J, Mirazimi A. Towards an understanding of the migration of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. J Gen Virol 2009; 91:199-207. [PMID: 19812264 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.014878-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a lethal disease caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). It is one of the most widespread medically significant tick-borne pathogens, with a distribution that coincides well with the geographical occurrence of its tick vector, Hyalomma marginatum marginatum. Sporadic outbreaks of CCHF have previously been recognized in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe but, in the 21st century, outbreaks have become more frequent in former Yugoslavia, Turkey and Iran. It has been suggested that CCHFV is a migrating pathogen, but it is not clear to what extent. We have, for the first time, analysed the worldwide migration pattern of CCHFV. Our results showed that Turkey may be a donor in Europe, towards both the east and the west, while the United Arab Emirates acted as a donor in the Middle East, and China was found to be the origin for genotype 2. Finally, we showed that migration of CCHFV was unrestricted between Iran and Pakistan. Considering the distribution and coincidence of the tick vector with CCHFV and CCHF, and the fact that the tick vector is present in western Europe, future outbreaks may extend to include hitherto-naïve areas, suggesting that increased surveillance and geographical mapping of this lethal pathogen are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Mild
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Nobels vag 16, 17182 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|