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Viruses
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Lassa Fever Virology
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Lassa Fever Virology

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 4621

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Juan De la Torre

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Immunology and Microbiology IMM-6, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla Campus, 10466 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
Interests: molecular, cell biology and pathogenesis of mammarenaviruses; virus-host cell interactions; antivirals; live attenuated vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The mammarenavirus Lassa virus (LASV), endemic to large areas of Western Africa, is the causative agent of Lassa fever (LF), a febrile disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Due to its impact in global health security, LASV has been included in the WHO list of priority pathogens for countermeasures development. Research over the last decade has significantly our understanding of the epidemiology and molecular and cell biology of LASV, as well as mechanisms of LF pathogenesis. These advances in our understanding of LASV biology is facilitating the development of therapeutic and prophylactic strategies to treat and prevent LF. This Special Issue of Viruses focuses on the recent progress in LASV research, including the implications of the epidemiology and genetic diversity of LASV for LF control, basic aspects of LASV molecular and cell biology, the structure–function relationship of LASV proteins, mechanisms of LF pathogenesis, as well as vaccine development and new therapeutic approaches to prevent and treat LF.

Prof. Dr. Juan De la Torre
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Lassa virus
  • Lassa fever
  • vaccines
  • antivirals
  • virus-host interactions
  • hemorrhagic fever
  • epidemiology
  • evolution

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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16 pages, 3670 KiB  
Article
An Outbred Guinea Pig Disease Model for Lassa Fever Using a Host-Adapted Clade III Nigerian Lassa Virus
by Yvon Deschambault, Geoff Soule, Levi Klassen, Angela Sloan, Jonathan Audet, Kim Azaransky, Abdulmajid S. Musa, Adama Ahmad, Afolabi M. Akinpelu, Nwando Mba, Derek R. Stein, Marc Ranson, Muhamad Almiski, Kevin Tierney, Gabor Fischer, Mable Chan and David Safronetz
Viruses 2023, 15(3), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030769 - 17 Mar 2023
Viewed by 2344
Abstract
Nigeria experiences annual outbreaks of Lassa fever (LF) with high case numbers. At least three clades of Lassa virus (LASV) have been documented in Nigeria, though recent outbreaks are most often associated with clade II or clade III viruses. Using a recently isolated [...] Read more.
Nigeria experiences annual outbreaks of Lassa fever (LF) with high case numbers. At least three clades of Lassa virus (LASV) have been documented in Nigeria, though recent outbreaks are most often associated with clade II or clade III viruses. Using a recently isolated clade III LASV from a case of LF in Nigeria in 2018, we developed and characterized a guinea pig adapted virus capable of causing lethal disease in commercially available Hartley guinea pigs. Uniform lethality was observed after four passages of the virus and was associated with only two dominant genomic changes. The adapted virus was highly virulent with a median lethal dose of 10 median tissue culture infectious doses. Disease was characterized by several hallmarks of LF in similar models including high fever, thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, and increased inflammatory immune mediators. High viral loads were noted in all solid organ specimens analyzed. Histological abnormalities were most striking in the lungs and livers of terminal animals and included interstitial inflammation, edema, and steatosis. Overall, this model represents a convenient small animal model for a clade III Nigeria LASV with which evaluation of specific prophylactic vaccines and medical countermeasures can be conducted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lassa Fever Virology)
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7 pages, 2432 KiB  
Brief Report
Passive Transfer of Animal-Derived Polyclonal Hyperimmune Antibodies Provides Protection of Mice from Lethal Lassa Virus Infection
by Lisa Oestereich, Helena Müller-Kräuter, Elisa Pallasch and Thomas Strecker
Viruses 2023, 15(7), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15071436 - 26 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1672
Abstract
Background: Lassa virus (LASV) can cause severe acute systemic infection in humans. No approved antiviral drugs or vaccines are currently available. Antibody-based therapeutics are considered a promising treatment strategy in the management of LASV disease. Methods: We used chimeric Ifnar−/− C57BL/6 (Ifnar [...] Read more.
Background: Lassa virus (LASV) can cause severe acute systemic infection in humans. No approved antiviral drugs or vaccines are currently available. Antibody-based therapeutics are considered a promising treatment strategy in the management of LASV disease. Methods: We used chimeric Ifnar−/− C57BL/6 (Ifnar−/− Bl6) mice, a lethal LASV mouse model, to evaluate the protective efficacy of polyclonal antibodies purified from sera of rabbits hyperimmunized with virus-like particles displaying native-like LASV glycoprotein GP spikes. Results: Polyclonal anti-LASV GP antibodies provided 100% protection against lethal LASV infection in a pre- and post-exposure treatment setting and prevented LASV disease. Treatment also significantly lowered viremia level and virus load in organs. When treatment was initiated at the onset of symptoms, the hyperimmune antibodies provided partial protection and increased the survival rate by 80%. Conclusions: Our findings support the consideration of animal-derived hyperimmune antibodies targeting GP as an effective treatment option for highly pathogenic LASV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lassa Fever Virology)
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