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Geographical drivers and climate-linked dynamics of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5759. [PMID: 34599162 PMCID: PMC8486829 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25910-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever is a longstanding public health concern in West Africa. Recent molecular studies have confirmed the fundamental role of the rodent host (Mastomys natalensis) in driving human infections, but control and prevention efforts remain hampered by a limited baseline understanding of the disease's true incidence, geographical distribution and underlying drivers. Here, we show that Lassa fever occurrence and incidence is influenced by climate, poverty, agriculture and urbanisation factors. However, heterogeneous reporting processes and diagnostic laboratory access also appear to be important drivers of the patchy distribution of observed disease incidence. Using spatiotemporal predictive models we show that including climatic variability added retrospective predictive value over a baseline model (11% decrease in out-of-sample predictive error). However, predictions for 2020 show that a climate-driven model performs similarly overall to the baseline model. Overall, with ongoing improvements in surveillance there may be potential for forecasting Lassa fever incidence to inform health planning.
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52
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The Origins and Future of Sentinel: An Early-Warning System for Pandemic Preemption and Response. Viruses 2021; 13:v13081605. [PMID: 34452470 PMCID: PMC8402630 DOI: 10.3390/v13081605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While investigating a signal of adaptive evolution in humans at the gene LARGE, we encountered an intriguing finding by Dr. Stefan Kunz that the gene plays a critical role in Lassa virus binding and entry. This led us to pursue field work to test our hypothesis that natural selection acting on LARGE-detected in the Yoruba population of Nigeria-conferred resistance to Lassa Fever in some West African populations. As we delved further, we conjectured that the "emerging" nature of recently discovered diseases like Lassa fever is related to a newfound capacity for detection, rather than a novel viral presence, and that humans have in fact been exposed to the viruses that cause such diseases for much longer than previously suspected. Dr. Stefan Kunz's critical efforts not only laid the groundwork for this discovery, but also inspired and catalyzed a series of events that birthed Sentinel, an ambitious and large-scale pandemic prevention effort in West Africa. Sentinel aims to detect and characterize deadly pathogens before they spread across the globe, through implementation of its three fundamental pillars: Detect, Connect, and Empower. More specifically, Sentinel is designed to detect known and novel infections rapidly, connect and share information in real time to identify emerging threats, and empower the public health community to improve pandemic preparedness and response anywhere in the world. We are proud to dedicate this work to Stefan Kunz, and eagerly invite new collaborators, experts, and others to join us in our efforts.
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Koch MR, Kanneh L, Wise PH, Kurina LM, Alhasan F, Garry RF, Schieffelin JS, Shaffer JG, Grant DS. Health seeking behavior after the 2013-16 Ebola epidemic: Lassa fever as a metric of persistent changes in Kenema District, Sierra Leone. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009576. [PMID: 34260615 PMCID: PMC8312964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The West African Ebola epidemic of 2013-2016 killed nearly 4,000 Sierra Leoneans and devastated health infrastructure across West Africa. Changes in health seeking behavior (HSB) during the outbreak resulted in dramatic underreporting and substantial declines in hospital presentations to public health facilities, resulting in an estimated tens of thousands of additional maternal, infant, and adult deaths per year. Sierra Leone's Kenema District, a major Ebola hotspot, is also endemic for Lassa fever (LF), another often-fatal hemorrhagic disease. Here we assess the impact of the West African Ebola epidemic on health seeking behaviors with respect to presentations to the Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) Lassa Ward, which serves as the primary health care referral center for suspected Lassa fever cases in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Presentation frequencies for suspected Lassa fever presenting to KGH or one of its referral centers from 2011-2019 were analyzed to consider the potential impact of the West African Ebola epidemic on presentation patterns. There was a significant decline in suspected LF cases presenting to KGH following the epidemic, and a lower percentage of subjects were admitted to the KGH Lassa Ward following the epidemic. To assess general HSB, a questionnaire was developed and administered to 200 residents from 8 villages in Kenema District. Among 194 completed interviews, 151 (78%) of respondents stated they felt hospitals were safer post-epidemic with no significant differences noted among subjects according to religious background, age, gender, or education. However, 37 (19%) subjects reported decreased attendance at hospitals since the epidemic, which suggests that trust in the healthcare system has not fully rebounded. Cost was identified as a major deterrent to seeking healthcare. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Analysis of patient demographic data suggests that fewer individuals sought care for Lassa fever and other febrile illnesses in Kenema District after the West African Ebola epidemic. Re-establishing trust in health care services will require efforts beyond rebuilding infrastructure and require concerted efforts to rebuild the trust of local residents who may be wary of seeking healthcare post epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikaela R. Koch
- Program in Human Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MRK); (JGS); (DSG)
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Pediatrics–Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Paul H. Wise
- Pediatrics–Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Lianne M. Kurina
- Program in Human Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Foday Alhasan
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Robert F. Garry
- Tulane University, School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD, United States of America
| | - John S. Schieffelin
- Sections of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey G. Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MRK); (JGS); (DSG)
| | - Donald S. Grant
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- * E-mail: (MRK); (JGS); (DSG)
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54
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Mori A, Pomari E, Deiana M, Perandin F, Caldrer S, Formenti F, Mistretta M, Orza P, Ragusa A, Piubelli C. Molecular techniques for the genomic viral RNA detection of West Nile, Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya arboviruses: a narrative review. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2021; 21:591-612. [PMID: 33910444 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2021.1924059] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Molecular technology has played an important role in arboviruses diagnostics. PCR-based methods stand out in terms of sensitivity, specificity, cost, robustness, and accessibility, and especially the isothermal amplification (IA) method is ideal for field-adaptable diagnostics in resource-limited settings (RLS).Areas covered: In this review, we provide an overview of the various molecular methods for West Nile, Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya. We summarize literature works reporting the assessment and use of in house and commercial assays. We describe limitations and challenges in the usage of methods and opportunities for novel approaches such as NNext-GenerationSequencing (NGS).Expert opinion: The rapidity and accuracy of differential diagnosis is essential for a successful clinical management, particularly in co-circulation area of arboviruses. Several commercial diagnostic molecular assays are available, but many are not affordable by RLS and not usable as Point-of-care/Point-of-need (POC/PON) such as RReal-TimeRT-PCR, Array-based methods and NGS. In contrast, the IA-based system fits better for POC/PON but it is still not ideal for the multiplexing detection system. Improvement in the characterization and validation of current molecular assays is needed to optimize their translation to the point of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mori
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy.,Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Pomari
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Michela Deiana
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Perandin
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Sara Caldrer
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Fabio Formenti
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Manuela Mistretta
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Pierantonio Orza
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Ragusa
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Piubelli
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
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55
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Mechanisms Underlying Host Range Variation in Flavivirus: From Empirical Knowledge to Predictive Models. J Mol Evol 2021; 89:329-340. [PMID: 34059925 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-10013-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Preventing and controlling epidemics caused by vector-borne viruses are particularly challenging due to their diverse pool of hosts and highly adaptive nature. Many vector-borne viruses belong to the Flavivirus genus, whose members vary greatly in host range and specificity. Members of the Flavivirus genus can be categorized to four main groups: insect-specific viruses that are maintained solely in arthropod populations, mosquito-borne viruses and tick-borne viruses that are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by mosquitoes or ticks via blood feeding, and those with no-known vector. The mosquito-borne group encompasses the yellow fever, dengue, and West Nile viruses, all of which are globally spread and cause severe morbidity in humans. The Flavivirus genus is genetically diverse, and its members are subject to different host-specific and vector-specific selective constraints, which do not always align. Thus, understanding the underlying genetic differences that led to the diversity in host range within this genus is an important aspect in deciphering the mechanisms that drive host compatibility and can aid in the constant arms-race against viral threats. Here, we review the phylogenetic relationships between members of the genus, their infection bottlenecks, and phenotypic and genomic differences. We further discuss methods that utilize these differences for prediction of host shifts in flaviviruses and can contribute to viral surveillance efforts.
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56
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Simo Tchetgna H, Descorps-Declère S, Selekon B, Kwasiborski A, Vandenbogaert M, Manuguerra JC, Gessain A, Caro V, Nakouné E, Berthet N. Molecular characterization of a new highly divergent Mobala related arenavirus isolated from Praomys sp. rodents. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10188. [PMID: 33986310 PMCID: PMC8119949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88046-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Arenaviruses represent a family of viruses that are naturally present in rodents belonging to subfamily Murinae, Neotominae or Sigmodontinae. Except for Lassa virus, little information is available on other Old-World arenaviruses. Here, we describe strain AnRB3214, a virus isolated from a presumed Praomys sp. rodent in the Central African Republic in 1981 and assigned to Ippy virus based on antigenic similarity. The strain was simultaneously sequenced on Illumina NovaSeq 6000 and MinION Mk1B devices and analysed with various bioinformatics tools. We show that the best genome coverage and depth were obtained with the Kaiju and Minimap2 classification and identification tools, on either the MinION or the Illumina reads. The genetic analysis of AnRB3214 fragments showed 68% to 79% similarity with the Mobala and Gairo mammarenaviruses at the nucleic acid level. Strain AnRB3214 had a truncated nucleoprotein smaller than that of other Old World arenaviruses. Molecular clock analysis suggests that this strain diverged from Mobala virus at least 400 years ago. Finally, this study illustrates the importance of genomics in the identification of archived viruses and expands on the diversity of African arenaviruses, because strain AnRB3214 is either a variant or a close relative of Mobala virus, and not Ippy virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huguette Simo Tchetgna
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Discovery and Molecular Characterization of Pathogens, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Stephane Descorps-Declère
- Center of Bioinformatics, Biostatistics and Integrative Biology (C3BI), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Aurelia Kwasiborski
- Cellule d'Intervention Biologique d'Urgence, Institut Pasteur, Unité Environnement et Risques Infectieux, Paris, France
| | - Mathias Vandenbogaert
- Cellule d'Intervention Biologique d'Urgence, Institut Pasteur, Unité Environnement et Risques Infectieux, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Claude Manuguerra
- Cellule d'Intervention Biologique d'Urgence, Institut Pasteur, Unité Environnement et Risques Infectieux, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Gessain
- Unité d'Epidémiologie et Physiopathologie des Virus Oncogènes, Département de Virologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR3569, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Caro
- Cellule d'Intervention Biologique d'Urgence, Institut Pasteur, Unité Environnement et Risques Infectieux, Paris, France
| | | | - Nicolas Berthet
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Discovery and Molecular Characterization of Pathogens, Shanghai, 200031, China. .,Cellule d'Intervention Biologique d'Urgence, Institut Pasteur, Unité Environnement et Risques Infectieux, Paris, France.
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57
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Arruda LB, Haider N, Olayemi A, Simons D, Ehichioya D, Yinka-Ogunleye A, Ansumana R, Thomason MJ, Asogun D, Ihekweazu C, Fichet-Calvet E, Kock RA. The niche of One Health approaches in Lassa fever surveillance and control. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2021; 20:29. [PMID: 33894784 PMCID: PMC8067790 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-021-00431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF), a zoonotic illness, represents a public health burden in West African countries where the Lassa virus (LASV) circulates among rodents. Human exposure hinges significantly on LASV ecology, which is in turn shaped by various parameters such as weather seasonality and even virus and rodent-host genetics. Furthermore, human behaviour, despite playing a key role in the zoonotic nature of the disease, critically affects either the spread or control of human-to-human transmission. Previous estimations on LF burden date from the 80s and it is unclear how the population expansion and the improvement on diagnostics and surveillance methods have affected such predictions. Although recent data have contributed to the awareness of epidemics, the real impact of LF in West African communities will only be possible with the intensification of interdisciplinary efforts in research and public health approaches. This review discusses the causes and consequences of LF from a One Health perspective, and how the application of this concept can improve the surveillance and control of this disease in West Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liã Bárbara Arruda
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Najmul Haider
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | - Ayodeji Olayemi
- Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria
| | - David Simons
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | - Deborah Ehichioya
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria.,Department of Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | | | - Rashid Ansumana
- School of Community Health Sciences, Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone
| | - Margaret J Thomason
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Danny Asogun
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Richard A Kock
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
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58
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Cagliani R, Mozzi A, Pontremoli C, Sironi M. Evolution and Origin of Human Viruses. Virology 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/9781119818526.ch8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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59
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Special Issue "Arenaviruses 2020". Viruses 2021; 13:v13040703. [PMID: 33919632 PMCID: PMC8074128 DOI: 10.3390/v13040703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent-borne arenaviruses have been traditionally predominantly associated with certain muroid species from Mastomys/Praomys genera (African arenaviruses) or with species that belong to murid subfamily Cricetidae (New World arenaviruses) [...].
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60
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Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a lethal hemorrhagic disease primarily concentrated in the tropical savannah regions of Nigeria and the Mano River Union countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. Endemic hotspots within these countries have had recurrent exposure to Lassa virus (LASV) via continual spillover from the host reservoir Mastomys natalensis. Increased trade and travel throughout the region have spread the virus to previously unexposed countries, including Ghana, Benin, Mali, and Côte d'Ivoire. In the absence of effective treatment or vaccines to LASV, preventative measures against Lassa fever rely heavily on reducing or eliminating rodent exposure, increasing the knowledge base surrounding the virus and disease in communities, and diminishing the stigmas faced by Lassa fever survivors.
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61
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Yadouleton A, Picard C, Rieger T, Loko F, Cadar D, Kouthon EC, Job EO, Bankolé H, Oestereich L, Gbaguidi F, Pahlman M, Becker-Ziaja B, Journeaux A, Pannetier D, Mély S, Mundweiler S, Thomas D, Kohossi L, Saizonou R, Kakaï CG, Da Silva M, Kossoubedie S, Kakonku AL, M'Pelé P, Gunther S, Baize S, Fichet-Calvet E. Lassa fever in Benin: description of the 2014 and 2016 epidemics and genetic characterization of a new Lassa virus. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 9:1761-1770. [PMID: 32723007 PMCID: PMC7473144 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1796528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
We report two outbreaks of Lassa fever that occurred in Benin in 2014 and 2016 with 20 confirmed cases and 50% (10/20) mortality. Benin was not previously considered to be an endemic country for Lassa fever, resulting in a delay to diagnose the disease and its human transmission. Molecular investigations showed the viral genomes to be similar to that of the Togo strain, which is genetically very different from other known strains and confirms the existence of a new lineage. Endemic circulation of Lassa virus in a new territory and the genetic diversity thus confirm that this virus represents a growing threat for West African people. Given the divergence of the Benin strain from the prototypic Josiah Sierra Leone strain frequently used to generate vaccine candidates, the efficacy of vaccine candidates should also be demonstrated with this strain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline Picard
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur CNR des fièvres hémorragiques virales (CNR FHV), Lyon, France
| | - Toni Rieger
- Virology Department, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Cadar
- Virology Department, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Oestereich
- Virology Department, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Meike Pahlman
- Virology Department, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Beate Becker-Ziaja
- Virology Department, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Stéphane Mély
- INSERM - Jean Mérieux BSL4Laboratory, CNR FHV, Lyon, France
| | | | - Damien Thomas
- INSERM - Jean Mérieux BSL4Laboratory, CNR FHV, Lyon, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Stephan Gunther
- Virology Department, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sylvain Baize
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales, Cotonou, Benin
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62
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Spielman SJ. Relative Model Fit Does Not Predict Topological Accuracy in Single-Gene Protein Phylogenetics. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:2110-2123. [PMID: 32191313 PMCID: PMC7306691 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is regarded as best practice in phylogenetic reconstruction to perform relative model selection to determine an appropriate evolutionary model for the data. This procedure ranks a set of candidate models according to their goodness of fit to the data, commonly using an information theoretic criterion. Users then specify the best-ranking model for inference. Although it is often assumed that better-fitting models translate to increase accuracy, recent studies have shown that the specific model employed may not substantially affect inferences. We examine whether there is a systematic relationship between relative model fit and topological inference accuracy in protein phylogenetics, using simulations and real sequences. Simulations employed site-heterogeneous mechanistic codon models that are distinct from protein-level phylogenetic inference models, allowing us to investigate how protein models performs when they are misspecified to the data, as will be the case for any real sequence analysis. We broadly find that phylogenies inferred across models with vastly different fits to the data produce highly consistent topologies. We additionally find that all models infer similar proportions of false-positive splits, raising the possibility that all available models of protein evolution are similarly misspecified. Moreover, we find that the parameter-rich GTR (general time reversible) model, whose amino acid exchangeabilities are free parameters, performs similarly to models with fixed exchangeabilities, although the inference precision associated with GTR models was not examined. We conclude that, although relative model selection may not hinder phylogenetic analysis on protein data, it may not offer specific predictable improvements and is not a reliable proxy for accuracy.
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63
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Abass OA, Timofeev VI, Sarkar B, Onobun DO, Ogunsola SO, Aiyenuro AE, Aborode AT, Aigboje AE, Omobolanle BN, Imolele AG, Abiodun AA. Immunoinformatics analysis to design novel epitope based vaccine candidate targeting the glycoprotein and nucleoprotein of Lassa mammarenavirus (LASMV) using strains from Nigeria. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:7283-7302. [PMID: 33719908 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1896387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Lassa mammarenavirus (LASMV) is responsible for a specific type of acute viral hemorrhagic fever known as Lassa fever. Lack of effective treatments and counter-measures against the virus has resulted in a high mortality rate in its endemic regions. Therefore, in this study, a novel epitope-based vaccine has been designed using the methods of immunoinformatics targeting the glycoprotein and nucleoprotein of the virus. After numerous robust analyses, two CTL epitopes, eight HTL epitopes and seven B-cell epitopes were finally selected for constructing the vaccine. All these most promising epitopes were found to be antigenic, non-allergenic, nontoxic and non-human homolog, which made them suitable for designing the subunit vaccine. Furthermore, the selected T-cell epitopes which were found to be fully conserved across different isolates of the virus, were also considered for final vaccine construction. After that, numerous validation experiments, i.e. molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and immune simulation were conducted, which predicted that our designed vaccine should be stable within the biological environment and effective in combating the LASMV infection. In the end, codon adaptation and in silico cloning studies were performed to design a recombinant plasmid for producing the vaccine industrially. However, further in vitro and in vivo assessments should be done on the constructed vaccine to finally confirm its safety and efficacy.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ohilebo Abdulateef Abass
- Department of Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Centre for BioCode, Benin, Nigeria.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | - Vladimir I Timofeev
- Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography of Federal Scientific Research Centre "Crystallography and Photonics" of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Bishajit Sarkar
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Desmond Odiamehi Onobun
- Department of Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Centre for BioCode, Benin, Nigeria.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Abdullahi Tunde Aborode
- Research & Development, Shaping Women in STEM (SWIS) Africa, Lagos, Nigeria.,Research & Development, Healthy Africans Platform, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | | | | | - Alade Adebowale Abiodun
- Bio-Computing Research Unit, Molecular Biology & Simulations (Mols & Sims) Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
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64
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Fischer RJ, Purushotham JN, van Doremalen N, Sebastian S, Meade-White K, Cordova K, Letko M, Jeremiah Matson M, Feldmann F, Haddock E, LaCasse R, Saturday G, Lambe T, Gilbert SC, Munster VJ. ChAdOx1-vectored Lassa fever vaccine elicits a robust cellular and humoral immune response and protects guinea pigs against lethal Lassa virus challenge. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:32. [PMID: 33654106 PMCID: PMC7925663 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00291-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) infects hundreds of thousands of individuals each year, highlighting the need for the accelerated development of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions. To date, no vaccine has been licensed for LASV. ChAdOx1-Lassa-GPC is a chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine encoding the Josiah strain LASV glycoprotein precursor (GPC) gene. In the following study, we show that ChAdOx1-Lassa-GPC is immunogenic, inducing robust T-cell and antibody responses in mice. Furthermore, a single dose of ChAdOx1-Lassa-GPC fully protects Hartley guinea pigs against morbidity and mortality following lethal challenge with a guinea pig-adapted LASV (strain Josiah). By contrast, control vaccinated animals reached euthanasia criteria 10-12 days after infection. Limited amounts of LASV RNA were detected in the tissues of vaccinated animals. Viable LASV was detected in only one animal receiving a single dose of the vaccine. A prime-boost regimen of ChAdOx1-Lassa-GPC in guinea pigs significantly increased antigen-specific antibody titers and cleared viable LASV from the tissues. These data support further development of ChAdOx1-Lassa-GPC and testing in non-human primate models of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Fischer
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT USA
| | - Jyothi N. Purushotham
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT USA ,grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Neeltje van Doremalen
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT USA
| | - Sarah Sebastian
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK ,Present Address: Vaccitech Limited, Oxford, UK
| | - Kimberly Meade-White
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT USA
| | - Kathleen Cordova
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT USA
| | - Michael Letko
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT USA ,grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Paul G. Allen School of Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
| | - M. Jeremiah Matson
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV USA
| | - Friederike Feldmann
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT USA
| | - Elaine Haddock
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT USA
| | - Rachel LaCasse
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT USA
| | - Greg Saturday
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT USA
| | - Teresa Lambe
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah C. Gilbert
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vincent J. Munster
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT USA
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Wang Y, Wang D, Zhang L, Sun W, Zhang Z, Chen W, Zhu A, Huang Y, Xiao F, Yao J, Gan M, Li F, Luo L, Huang X, Zhang Y, Wong SS, Cheng X, Ji J, Ou Z, Xiao M, Li M, Li J, Ren P, Deng Z, Zhong H, Xu X, Song T, Mok CKP, Peiris M, Zhong N, Zhao J, Li Y, Li J, Zhao J. Intra-host variation and evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 populations in COVID-19 patients. Genome Med 2021; 13:30. [PMID: 33618765 PMCID: PMC7898256 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00847-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since early February 2021, the causative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, has infected over 104 million people with more than 2 million deaths according to official reports. The key to understanding the biology and virus-host interactions of SARS-CoV-2 requires the knowledge of mutation and evolution of this virus at both inter- and intra-host levels. However, despite quite a few polymorphic sites identified among SARS-CoV-2 populations, intra-host variant spectra and their evolutionary dynamics remain mostly unknown. METHODS Using high-throughput sequencing of metatranscriptomic and hybrid captured libraries, we characterized consensus genomes and intra-host single nucleotide variations (iSNVs) of serial samples collected from eight patients with COVID-19. The distribution of iSNVs along the SARS-CoV-2 genome was analyzed and co-occurring iSNVs among COVID-19 patients were identified. We also compared the evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 population in the respiratory tract (RT) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT). RESULTS The 32 consensus genomes revealed the co-existence of different genotypes within the same patient. We further identified 40 intra-host single nucleotide variants (iSNVs). Most (30/40) iSNVs presented in a single patient, while ten iSNVs were found in at least two patients or identical to consensus variants. Comparing allele frequencies of the iSNVs revealed a clear genetic differentiation between intra-host populations from the respiratory tract (RT) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT), mostly driven by bottleneck events during intra-host migrations. Compared to RT populations, the GIT populations showed a better maintenance and rapid development of viral genetic diversity following the suspected intra-host bottlenecks. CONCLUSIONS Our findings here illustrate the intra-host bottlenecks and evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in different anatomic sites and may provide new insights to understand the virus-host interactions of coronaviruses and other RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Daxi Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Institute of Infectious Disease, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanying Sun
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Zhaoyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Weijun Chen
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Airu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongbo Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Fei Xiao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinxiu Yao
- Yangjiang People's Hospital, Yangjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Mian Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Ling Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaofang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Sook-San Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinyi Cheng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingkai Ji
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Zhihua Ou
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Minfeng Xiao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Min Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Jiandong Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Peidi Ren
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Ziqing Deng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Huanzi Zhong
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China
| | - Tie Song
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, Guangdong, China
| | - Chris Ka Pun Mok
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- The HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 19406, China
| | - Malik Peiris
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- The HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 19406, China
| | - Nanshan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingxian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
| | - Junhua Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
- Institute of Infectious Disease, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China.
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Maldonado LL, Bertelli AM, Kamenetzky L. Molecular features similarities between SARS-CoV-2, SARS, MERS and key human genes could favour the viral infections and trigger collateral effects. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4108. [PMID: 33602998 PMCID: PMC7893037 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83595-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In December 2019, rising pneumonia cases caused by a novel β-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in Wuhan, China, which has rapidly spread worldwide, causing thousands of deaths. The WHO declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, since then several scientists are dedicated to its study. It has been observed that many human viruses have codon usage biases that match highly expressed proteins in the tissues they infect and depend on the host cell machinery for the replication and co-evolution. In this work, we analysed 91 molecular features and codon usage patterns for 339 viral genes and 463 human genes that consisted of 677,873 codon positions. Hereby, we selected the highly expressed genes from human lung tissue to perform computational studies that permit to compare their molecular features with those of SARS, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS genes. The integrated analysis of all the features revealed that certain viral genes and overexpressed human genes have similar codon usage patterns. The main pattern was the A/T bias that together with other features could propitiate the viral infection, enhanced by a host dependant specialization of the translation machinery of only some of the overexpressed genes. The envelope protein E, the membrane glycoprotein M and ORF7 could be further benefited. This could be the key for a facilitated translation and viral replication conducting to different comorbidities depending on the genetic variability of population due to the host translation machinery. This is the first codon usage approach that reveals which human genes could be potentially deregulated due to the codon usage similarities between the host and the viral genes when the virus is already inside the human cells of the lung tissues. Our work leaded to the identification of additional highly expressed human genes which are not the usual suspects but might play a role in the viral infection and settle the basis for further research in the field of human genetics associated with new viral infections. To identify the genes that could be deregulated under a viral infection is important to predict the collateral effects and determine which individuals would be more susceptible based on their genetic features and comorbidities associated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas L Maldonado
- IMPaM, CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | | | - Laura Kamenetzky
- IMPaM, CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- iB3 | Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología traslacional, Departamento de Fisiologia y Biologia Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Lin SR, Yang TY, Peng CY, Lin YY, Dai CY, Wang HY, Su TH, Tseng TC, Liu IJ, Cheng HR, Shen YC, Wu FY, Liu CJ, Chen DS, Chen PJ, Yang HC, Kao JH. Whole genome deep sequencing analysis of viral quasispecies diversity and evolution in HBeAg seroconverters. JHEP Rep 2021; 3:100254. [PMID: 33870157 PMCID: PMC8042178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims We aimed to investigate how viral quasispecies of the HBV whole genome evolves and diversifies in response to HBeAg seroconversion and viral control utilising next-generation sequencing (NGS). Methods Fifty HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients, including 18 treatment-naïve and 32 interferon (IFN)-treated individuals, were recruited. Serial HBV whole genomes in serum were analysed by NGS to determine sequence characteristics and viral quasispecies. Results HBV quasispecies diversity, measured by nucleotide diversity, was negatively correlated with viral load and hepatitis activity. Spontaneous HBeAg seroconverters exhibited significantly greater viral quasispecies diversity than treatment-naïve non-seroconverters from >1 year before seroconversion (0.0112 vs. 0.0060, p <0.01) to >1 year after seroconversion (0.0103 vs. 0.0068, p <0.01). IFN-induced HBeAg seroconverters tended to have higher viral genetic diversity than non-seroconverters along with treatment. Particularly, the IFN responders, defined as IFN-induced HBeAg seroconversion with low viraemia, exhibited significantly greater genetic diversity of whole HBV genome at 6 months post-IFN treatment than IFN non-responders (0.0148 vs. 0.0106, p = 0.048). Moreover, spontaneous HBeAg seroconverters and IFN responders exhibited significantly higher evolutionary rates and more intra-host single-nucleotide variants. Interestingly, in spontaneous HBeAg seroconverters and IFN responders, there were distinct evolutionary patterns in the HBV genome. Conclusions Higher HBV quasispecies diversity is associated with spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion and IFN-induced HBeAg seroconversion with low viraemia, conferring a favourable clinical outcome. Lay summary HBeAg seroconversion is a landmark in the natural history of chronic HBV infection. Using next-generation sequencing, we found that the nucleotide diversity of HBV was negatively correlated with viral load and hepatitis activity. Patients undergoing HBeAg seroconversion had more diverse HBV genomes and a faster viral evolution rate. Our findings suggest HBeAg seroconversion is driven by host selection pressure, likely immune selection pressure. Deep sequencing of whole HBV genome uncovers the quasispecies changes in chronic hepatitis B patients. The nucleotide diversity of HBV negatively correlates with viraemia during HBeAg loss/seroconversion. Viral quasispecies diversity is greater in spontaneous HBeAg seroconverters before and after seroconversion than in treatment-naïve non-seroconverters. Responders to IFN have greater viral quasispecies diversity than non-responders at 24 weeks after treatment. The genome positions of non-synonymous intra-host single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) of HBV tend to be located at possible T cell epitopes.
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Key Words
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- AUC, area under curve
- BCP, basal core promoter
- C, core
- CHB, chronic hepatitis B
- Chronic hepatitis B
- EOT, end of treatment
- HBeAg seroconversion
- IFN, interferon
- IFN-NR, IFN-non-responders
- IFN-No-eSC, IFN-treated HBeAg non-seroconverters
- IFN-RS, IFN-responders
- IFN-eSC, IFN-treated HBeAg seroconverters
- Intra-host single nucleotide variants
- NGS, next-generation sequencing
- ORFs, open reading frames
- P, polymerase
- S, surface
- TN-No-eSC, treatment-naïve non-seroconverters
- TN-eSC, treatment-naïve HBeAg seroconverters
- dN, nonsynonymous substitution rate
- dS, synonymous substitution rate
- iSNVs, intra-host single-nucleotide variants
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Ru Lin
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Yu Yang
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yuan Peng
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Digestive Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - You-Yu Lin
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yen Dai
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Hepato-Biliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hurng-Yi Wang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Hung Su
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Chung Tseng
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-Jung Liu
- Cardinal Tien Junior College of Healthcare and Management, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Ru Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Chi Shen
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Yi Wu
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Jen Liu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ding-Shinn Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jer Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chih Yang
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Horng Kao
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Min KD, Hwang J, Schneider MC, So Y, Lee JY, Cho SI. An exploration of the protective effect of rodent species richness on the geographical expansion of Lassa fever in West Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009108. [PMID: 33524016 PMCID: PMC7877741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa fever (LF) is one of the most devastating rodent-borne diseases in West Africa, causing thousands of deaths annually. The geographical expansion of LF is also a concern; cases were recently identified in Ghana and Benin. Previous ecological studies have suggested that high natural-host biodiversity reduces the likelihood of spillover transmission of rodent-borne diseases, by suppressing the activities of reservoir species. However, the association of biodiversity with the geographical expansion of LF has not been the subject of epidemiological studies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted a spatial analysis based on sociodemographic, geographical, and ecological data, and found that higher rodent species richness was significantly associated with a lower risk of LF emergence in West Africa from 2008 to 2017 (Odds Ratio = 0.852, 95% Credible Interval = 0.745-0.971). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The results reinforce the importance of the 'One Health' approach by demonstrating that a high level of biodiversity could benefit human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Duk Min
- Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jusun Hwang
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Maria Cristina Schneider
- Department of International Health, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Georgetown University, Washington DC, United States of America
- Institute of Collective Health Studies, Federal University of Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yeonghwa So
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Yeun Lee
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-il Cho
- Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Kim WK, Cho S, Lee SH, No JS, Lee GY, Park K, Lee D, Jeong ST, Song JW. Genomic Epidemiology and Active Surveillance to Investigate Outbreaks of Hantaviruses. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:532388. [PMID: 33489927 PMCID: PMC7819890 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.532388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses pose significant public health, economic, and societal burdens. Hantaviruses (genus Orthohantavirus, family Hantaviridae, order Bunyavirales) are enveloped, negative-sense, single-stranded, tripartite RNA viruses that are emerging zoonotic pathogens harbored by small mammals such as rodents, bats, moles, and shrews. Orthohantavirus infections cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in humans (HCPS). Active targeted surveillance has elucidated high-resolution phylogeographic relationships between patient- and rodent-derived orthohantavirus genome sequences and identified the infection source by temporally and spatially tracking viral genomes. Active surveillance of patients with HFRS entails 1) recovering whole-genome sequences of Hantaan virus (HTNV) using amplicon (multiplex PCR-based) next-generation sequencing, 2) tracing the putative infection site of a patient by administering an epidemiological questionnaire, and 3) collecting HTNV-positive rodents using targeted rodent trapping. Moreover, viral genome tracking has been recently performed to rapidly and precisely characterize an outbreak from the emerging virus. Here, we reviewed genomic epidemiological and active surveillance data for determining the emergence of zoonotic RNA viruses based on viral genomic sequences obtained from patients and natural reservoirs. This review highlights the recent studies on tracking viral genomes for identifying and characterizing emerging viral outbreaks worldwide. We believe that active surveillance is an effective method for identifying rodent-borne orthohantavirus infection sites, and this report provides insights into disease mitigation and preparedness for managing emerging viral outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Keun Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea.,Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Seungchan Cho
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung-Ho Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin Sun No
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Geum-Young Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyungmin Park
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Daesang Lee
- 4th R&D Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seong Tae Jeong
- 4th R&D Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jin-Won Song
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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70
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AIM and Evolutionary Theory. Artif Intell Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-58080-3_41-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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71
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Kojom LP, Singh V. A Review on Emerging Infectious Diseases Prioritized Under the 2018 WHO Research and Development Blueprint: Lessons from the Indian Context. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 21:149-159. [PMID: 33316200 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This review describes the current scenario of a priority group of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) listed by World Health Organization (WHO), and their main determinants and drivers for the emergence/spread of the diseases. The gaps and strategies developed by India to meet the WHO guidelines on the effective control of epidemic-prone diseases and outbreaks are also presented in the review. Methods: Epidemiologic information of EIDs, namely Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Ebola and Marburg viruses (EboV and MarV), Zika virus (ZIKAV), Rift Valley fever (RVF), Middle East respiratory syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Nipah and Hendra virus (NiV and HeV), and Lassa fever virus (LASV), was drawn from international and national electronic databases to assess the situation. A brief view on the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in India is also included. Results: There are no reports for human infection of EboV, MarV, RVF, and LASV in India. CCHF, SARS, ZIKAV, and NiV have been involved in outbreaks in eight states of India, while COVID-19 is currently reported from majority of states. India has deeply strengthened its surveillance and response system of outbreaks and epidemic-prone diseases. Conclusions: Despite its enormous improvements made in the anticipation of such threats, still more efforts are needed in sensitization of populations as well as hospital management in the context to EIDs, as addressed in the review. Furthermore, there is still a need for more research and development activities to efficiently control EIDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loick Pradel Kojom
- Cell Biology Laboratory and Malaria Parasite Bank, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New-Delhi, India
| | - Vineeta Singh
- Cell Biology Laboratory and Malaria Parasite Bank, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New-Delhi, India
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Forni D, Cagliani R, Pontremoli C, Mozzi A, Pozzoli U, Clerici M, Sironi M. Antigenic variation of SARS-CoV-2 in response to immune pressure. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:3548-3559. [PMID: 33289207 PMCID: PMC7753431 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of the bat viruses most closely related to SARS-CoV-2 indicated that the virus probably required limited adaptation to spread in humans. Nonetheless, since its introduction in human populations, SARS-CoV-2 must have been subject to the selective pressure imposed by the human immune system. We exploited the availability of a large number of high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomes, as well as of validated epitope predictions, to show that B cell epitopes in the spike glycoprotein (S) and in the nucleocapsid protein (N) have higher diversity than nonepitope positions. Similar results were obtained for other human coronaviruses and for sarbecoviruses sampled in bats. Conversely, in the SARS-CoV-2 population, epitopes for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were not more variable than nonepitope positions. A significant reduction in epitope variability was instead observed for some of the most immunogenic proteins (S, N, ORF8 and ORF3a). Analysis over longer evolutionary time frames indicated that this effect is not due to differential constraints. These data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 evolves to elude the host humoral immune response, whereas recognition by T cells is not actively avoided by the virus. However, we also found a trend of lower diversity of T cell epitopes for common cold coronaviruses, indicating that epitope conservation per se is not directly linked to disease severity. We suggest that conservation serves to maintain epitopes that elicit tolerizing T cell responses or induce T cells with regulatory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Forni
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEABioinformaticsBosisio PariniItaly
| | - Rachele Cagliani
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEABioinformaticsBosisio PariniItaly
| | - Chiara Pontremoli
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEABioinformaticsBosisio PariniItaly
| | - Alessandra Mozzi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEABioinformaticsBosisio PariniItaly
| | - Uberto Pozzoli
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEABioinformaticsBosisio PariniItaly
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Physiopathology and TransplantationUniversity of MilanMilanItaly
- Don C. Gnocchi Foundation ONLUSIRCCSMilanItaly
| | - Manuela Sironi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEABioinformaticsBosisio PariniItaly
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Severe Human Lassa Fever Is Characterized by Nonspecific T-Cell Activation and Lymphocyte Homing to Inflamed Tissues. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01367-20. [PMID: 32817220 PMCID: PMC7565638 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01367-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever may cause severe disease in humans, in particular in areas of endemicity like Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Despite its public health importance, the pathophysiology of Lassa fever in humans is poorly understood. Here, we present clinical immunology data obtained in the field during the 2018 Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria indicating that severe Lassa fever is associated with activation of T cells antigenically unrelated to Lassa virus and poor Lassa virus-specific effector T-cell responses. Mechanistically, we show that these bystander T cells express defined tissue homing signatures that suggest their recruitment to inflamed tissues and a putative role of these T cells in immunopathology. These findings open a window of opportunity to consider T-cell targeting as a potential postexposure therapeutic strategy against severe Lassa fever, a hypothesis that could be tested in relevant animal models, such as nonhuman primates. Lassa fever (LF) is a zoonotic viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus (LASV), which is endemic to West African countries. Previous studies have suggested an important role for T-cell-mediated immunopathology in LF pathogenesis, but the mechanisms by which T cells influence disease severity and outcome are not well understood. Here, we present a multiparametric analysis of clinical immunology data collected during the 2017–2018 Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria. During the acute phase of LF, we observed robust activation of the polyclonal T-cell repertoire, which included LASV-specific and antigenically unrelated T cells. However, severe and fatal LF cases were characterized by poor LASV-specific effector T-cell responses. Severe LF was also characterized by the presence of circulating T cells with homing capacity to inflamed tissues, including the gut mucosa. These findings in LF patients were recapitulated in a mouse model of LASV infection, in which mucosal exposure resulted in remarkably high lethality compared to skin exposure. Taken together, our findings indicate that poor LASV-specific T-cell responses and activation of nonspecific T cells with homing capacity to inflamed tissues are associated with severe LF. IMPORTANCE Lassa fever may cause severe disease in humans, in particular in areas of endemicity like Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Despite its public health importance, the pathophysiology of Lassa fever in humans is poorly understood. Here, we present clinical immunology data obtained in the field during the 2018 Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria indicating that severe Lassa fever is associated with activation of T cells antigenically unrelated to Lassa virus and poor Lassa virus-specific effector T-cell responses. Mechanistically, we show that these bystander T cells express defined tissue homing signatures that suggest their recruitment to inflamed tissues and a putative role of these T cells in immunopathology. These findings open a window of opportunity to consider T-cell targeting as a potential postexposure therapeutic strategy against severe Lassa fever, a hypothesis that could be tested in relevant animal models, such as nonhuman primates.
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Lee GY, Kim WK, Park K, Lee SH, Hwang J, No JS, Cho S, Lee D, Song DH, Gu SH, Park MS, Jeong ST, Kim YS, Song JW. Phylogeographic diversity and hybrid zone of Hantaan orthohantavirus collected in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008714. [PMID: 33035222 PMCID: PMC7588125 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hantaan orthohantavirus (Hantaan virus, HTNV), harbored by Apodemus agrarius (the striped field mouse), causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in humans. Viral genome-based surveillance at new expansion sites to identify HFRS risks plays a critical role in tracking the infection source of orthohantavirus outbreak. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), most studies demonstrated the serological prevalence and genetic diversity of orthohantaviruses collected from HFRS patients or rodents in Gyeonggi Province. Gangwon Province is a HFRS-endemic area with a high incidence of patients and prevalence of infected rodents, ROK. However, the continued epidemiology and surveillance of orthohantavirus remain to be investigated. Methodology/Principal findings Whole-genome sequencing of HTNV was accomplished in small mammals collected in Gangwon Province during 2015–2018 by multiplex PCR-based next-generation sequencing. To elucidate the geographic distribution and molecular diversity of viruses, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of HTNV tripartite genomes. We inferred the hybrid zone using cline analysis to estimate the geographic contact between two different HTNV lineages in the ROK. The graph incompatibility based reassortment finder performed reassortment analysis. A total of 12 HTNV genome sequences were completely obtained from A. agrarius newly collected in Gangwon Province. The phylogenetic and cline analyses demonstrated the genetic diversity and hybrid zone of HTNV in the ROK. Genetic exchange analysis suggested the possibility of reassortments in Cheorwon-gun, a highly HFRS-endemic area. Conclusions/Significance The prevalence and distribution of HTNV in HFRS-endemic areas of Gangwon Province enhanced the phylogeographic map for orthohantavirus outbreak monitoring in ROK. This study revealed the hybrid zone reflecting the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of HTNV circulating in Gangwon Province. The results arise awareness of rodent-borne orthohantavirus diseases for physicians in the endemic area of ROK. The genetic and molecular epidemiological studies on small mammals derived from hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)-endemic areas have consistently conducted for the public health surveillance and mitigation of orthohantavirus outbreak in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Implementing viral genome-based surveillance at new expansion sites that may identify HFRS risks is critical for tracking the location of orthohantavirus infections and diagnosing HFRS. In the present study, whole-genome sequences of Hantaan virus (HTNV) from small mammals in Gangwon Province were recovered using multiplex PCR-based next-generation sequencing during 2015–2018. In HFRS-endemic regions including Cheorwon-gun, Chuncheon-si, and Hwacheon-gun, additional HTNV genome sequences contribute to establish a high-resolution phylogeographic map for tracking emerging orthohantavirus-induced diseases. The cline analysis revealed a remarkable hybrid zone by showing spatial contact regions of HTNV at two sites (Cheorwon-gun and Hwacheon-gun) and the spatial separation and sequence divergence across genome segments of HTNV in Gangwon Province. These results demonstrate the genetic diversity and hybrid zone of HTNV circulating in Gangwon Province. These findings increase an awareness raising about HFRS in the endemic area of ROK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geum-Young Lee
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Keun Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmin Park
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ho Lee
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jusun Hwang
- Wildlife Ecology & Genomics Laboratory, College of Forest & Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Sun No
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungchan Cho
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Daesang Lee
- 4th R&D Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hyun Song
- 4th R&D Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hun Gu
- 4th R&D Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Man-Seong Park
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Tae Jeong
- 4th R&D Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Su Kim
- Infectious Disease Research Department, Gangwon Institute of Health and Environment, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Won Song
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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75
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Ji X, Zhang Z, Holbrook A, Nishimura A, Baele G, Rambaut A, Lemey P, Suchard MA. Gradients Do Grow on Trees: A Linear-Time O(N)-Dimensional Gradient for Statistical Phylogenetics. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:3047-3060. [PMID: 32458974 PMCID: PMC7530611 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Calculation of the log-likelihood stands as the computational bottleneck for many statistical phylogenetic algorithms. Even worse is its gradient evaluation, often used to target regions of high probability. Order O(N)-dimensional gradient calculations based on the standard pruning algorithm require O(N2) operations, where N is the number of sampled molecular sequences. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing, recent phylogenetic studies have analyzed hundreds to thousands of sequences, with an apparent trend toward even larger data sets as a result of advancing technology. Such large-scale analyses challenge phylogenetic reconstruction by requiring inference on larger sets of process parameters to model the increasing data heterogeneity. To make these analyses tractable, we present a linear-time algorithm for O(N)-dimensional gradient evaluation and apply it to general continuous-time Markov processes of sequence substitution on a phylogenetic tree without a need to assume either stationarity or reversibility. We apply this approach to learn the branch-specific evolutionary rates of three pathogenic viruses: West Nile virus, Dengue virus, and Lassa virus. Our proposed algorithm significantly improves inference efficiency with a 126- to 234-fold increase in maximum-likelihood optimization and a 16- to 33-fold computational performance increase in a Bayesian framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Ji
- Department of Biomathematics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Mathematics, School of Science & Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Andrew Holbrook
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Akihiko Nishimura
- Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Guy Baele
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andrew Rambaut
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Philippe Lemey
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc A Suchard
- Department of Biomathematics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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76
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Antibodies from Sierra Leonean and Nigerian Lassa fever survivors cross-react with recombinant proteins representing Lassa viruses of divergent lineages. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16030. [PMID: 32994446 PMCID: PMC7525497 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72539-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is the causative agent of Lassa fever, an often-fatal hemorrhagic disease that is endemic in West Africa. Seven genetically distinct LASV lineages have been identified. As part of CEPI's (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) Lassa vaccine development program, we assessed the potential of the human immune system to mount cross-reactive and cross-protective humoral immune responses to antigens from the most prevalent LASV lineages, which are lineages II and III in Nigeria and lineage IV in Sierra Leone. IgG and IgM present in the blood of Lassa fever survivors from Nigeria or Sierra Leone exhibited substantial cross-reactivity for binding to LASV nucleoprotein and two engineered (linked and prefusion) versions of the glycoproteins (GP) of lineages II-IV. There was less cross-reactivity for the Zinc protein. Serum or plasma from Nigerian Lassa fever survivors neutralized LASV pseudoviruses expressing lineage II GP better than they neutralized lineage III or IV GP expressing pseudoviruses. Sierra Leonean survivors did not exhibit a lineage bias. Neutralization titres determined using LASV pseudovirus assays showed significant correlation with titres determined by plaque reduction with infectious LASV. These studies provide guidance for comparison of humoral immunity to LASV of distinct lineages following natural infection or immunization.
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77
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Dearlove B, Lewitus E, Bai H, Li Y, Reeves DB, Joyce MG, Scott PT, Amare MF, Vasan S, Michael NL, Modjarrad K, Rolland M. A SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate would likely match all currently circulating variants. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:23652-23662. [PMID: 32868447 PMCID: PMC7519301 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2008281117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgency for a safe and effective vaccine. Many vaccine candidates focus on the Spike protein, as it is targeted by neutralizing antibodies and plays a key role in viral entry. Here we investigate the diversity seen in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequences and compare it to the sequence on which most vaccine candidates are based. Using 18,514 sequences, we perform phylogenetic, population genetics, and structural bioinformatics analyses. We find limited diversity across SARS-CoV-2 genomes: Only 11 sites show polymorphisms in >5% of sequences; yet two mutations, including the D614G mutation in Spike, have already become consensus. Because SARS-CoV-2 is being transmitted more rapidly than it evolves, the viral population is becoming more homogeneous, with a median of seven nucleotide substitutions between genomes. There is evidence of purifying selection but little evidence of diversifying selection, with substitution rates comparable across structural versus nonstructural genes. Finally, the Wuhan-Hu-1 reference sequence for the Spike protein, which is the basis for different vaccine candidates, matches optimized vaccine inserts, being identical to an ancestral sequence and one mutation away from the consensus. While the rapid spread of the D614G mutation warrants further study, our results indicate that drift and bottleneck events can explain the minimal diversity found among SARS-CoV-2 sequences. These findings suggest that a single vaccine candidate should be efficacious against currently circulating lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Dearlove
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Eric Lewitus
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Hongjun Bai
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Yifan Li
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Daniel B Reeves
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - M Gordon Joyce
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817
| | - Paul T Scott
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Mihret F Amare
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817
| | - Sandhya Vasan
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Nelson L Michael
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Kayvon Modjarrad
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910;
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Morgane Rolland
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910;
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910
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Huang Q, Liu X, Brisse M, Ly H, Liang Y. Effect of Strain Variations on Lassa Virus Z Protein-Mediated Human RIG-I Inhibition. Viruses 2020; 12:E907. [PMID: 32824946 PMCID: PMC7551410 DOI: 10.3390/v12090907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammarenaviruses include several known human pathogens, such as the prototypic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) that can cause neurological diseases and Lassa virus (LASV) that causes endemic hemorrhagic fever infection. LASV-infected patients show diverse clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to hemorrhage, multi-organ failures and death, the mechanisms of which have not been well characterized. We have previously shown that the matrix protein Z of pathogenic arenaviruses, including LASV and LCMV, can strongly inhibit the ability of the innate immune protein RIG-I to suppress type I interferon (IFN-I) expression, which serves as a mechanism of viral immune evasion and virulence. Here, we show that Z proteins of diverse LASV isolates derived from rodents and humans have a high degree of sequence variations at their N- and C-terminal regions and produce variable degrees of inhibition of human RIG-I (hRIG-I) function in an established IFN-β promoter-driven luciferase (LUC) reporter assay. Additionally, we show that Z proteins of four known LCMV strains can also inhibit hRIG-I at variable degrees of efficiency. Collectively, our results confirm that Z proteins of pathogenic LASV and LCMV can inhibit hRIG-I and suggest that strain variations of the Z proteins can influence their efficiency to suppress host innate immunity that might contribute to viral virulence and disease heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yuying Liang
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-612-625-3376; Fax: +1-612-625-0204
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Deployable CRISPR-Cas13a diagnostic tools to detect and report Ebola and Lassa virus cases in real-time. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4131. [PMID: 32807807 PMCID: PMC7431545 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17994-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), including Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Lassa fever (LF), highlight the urgent need for sensitive, deployable tests to diagnose these devastating human diseases. Here we develop CRISPR-Cas13a-based (SHERLOCK) diagnostics targeting Ebola virus (EBOV) and Lassa virus (LASV), with both fluorescent and lateral flow readouts. We demonstrate on laboratory and clinical samples the sensitivity of these assays and the capacity of the SHERLOCK platform to handle virus-specific diagnostic challenges. We perform safety testing to demonstrate the efficacy of our HUDSON protocol in heat-inactivating VHF viruses before SHERLOCK testing, eliminating the need for an extraction. We develop a user-friendly protocol and mobile application (HandLens) to report results, facilitating SHERLOCK’s use in endemic regions. Finally, we successfully deploy our tests in Sierra Leone and Nigeria in response to recent outbreaks. Outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers highlight the need for sensitive, field-deployable diagnostics. Here the authors present a CRISPR-based SHERLOCK platform with field protocol and mobile app for Ebola and Lassa fever outbreaks.
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80
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The Role of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Lassa Virus Cell Entry. Viruses 2020; 12:v12080857. [PMID: 32781509 PMCID: PMC7472032 DOI: 10.3390/v12080857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The zoonotic Old World mammarenavirus Lassa (LASV) causes severe hemorrhagic fever with high mortality and morbidity in humans in endemic regions. The development of effective strategies to combat LASV infections is of high priority, given the lack of a licensed vaccine and restriction on available treatment to off-label use of ribavirin. A better understanding of the fundamental aspects of the virus's life cycle would help to improve the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Host cell entry and restriction factors represent major barriers for emerging viruses and are promising targets for therapeutic intervention. In addition to the LASV main receptor, the extracellular matrix molecule dystroglycan (DG), the phosphatidylserine-binding receptors of the Tyro3/Axl/Mer (TAM), and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin receptor (TIM) families are potential alternative receptors of LASV infection. Therefore, the relative contributions of candidate receptors to LASV entry into a particular human cell type are a complex function of receptor expression and functional DG availability. Here, we describe the role of two receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), Axl and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), in the presence and absence of glycosylated DG for LASV entry. We found that both RTKs participated in the macropinocytosis-related LASV entry and, regardless of the presence or absence of functional DG, their inhibition resulted in a significant antiviral effect.
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81
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Assessment of Metagenomic Sequencing and qPCR for Detection of Influenza D Virus in Bovine Respiratory Tract Samples. Viruses 2020; 12:v12080814. [PMID: 32731471 PMCID: PMC7472010 DOI: 10.3390/v12080814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
High throughput sequencing is currently revolutionizing the genomics field and providing new approaches to the detection and characterization of microorganisms. The objective of this study was to assess the detection of influenza D virus (IDV) in bovine respiratory tract samples using two sequencing platforms (MiSeq and Nanopore (GridION)), and species-specific qPCR. An IDV-specific qPCR was performed on 232 samples (116 nasal swabs and 116 tracheal washes) that had been previously subject to virome sequencing using MiSeq. Nanopore sequencing was performed on 19 samples positive for IDV by either MiSeq or qPCR. Nanopore sequence data was analyzed by two bioinformatics methods: What’s In My Pot (WIMP, on the EPI2ME platform), and an in-house developed analysis pipeline. The agreement of IDV detection between qPCR and MiSeq was 82.3%, between qPCR and Nanopore was 57.9% (in-house) and 84.2% (WIMP), and between MiSeq and Nanopore was 89.5% (in-house) and 73.7% (WIMP). IDV was detected by MiSeq in 14 of 17 IDV qPCR-positive samples with Cq (cycle quantification) values below 31, despite multiplexing 50 samples for sequencing. When qPCR was regarded as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of MiSeq sequence detection were 28.3% and 98.9%, respectively. We conclude that both MiSeq and Nanopore sequencing are capable of detecting IDV in clinical specimens with a range of Cq values. Sensitivity may be further improved by optimizing sequence data analysis, improving virus enrichment, or reducing the degree of multiplexing.
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82
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Patrono LV, Pléh K, Samuni L, Ulrich M, Röthemeier C, Sachse A, Muschter S, Nitsche A, Couacy-Hymann E, Boesch C, Wittig RM, Calvignac-Spencer S, Leendertz FH. Monkeypox virus emergence in wild chimpanzees reveals distinct clinical outcomes and viral diversity. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:955-965. [PMID: 32341480 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-0706-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease on the rise across endemic habitats. Despite the growing importance of monkeypox virus, our knowledge on its host spectrum and sylvatic maintenance is limited. Here, we describe the recent repeated emergence of monkeypox virus in a wild, human-habituated western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus, hereafter chimpanzee) population from Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. Through daily monitoring, we show that further to causing its typical exanthematous syndrome, monkeypox can present itself as a severe respiratory disease without a diffuse rash. By analysing 949 non-invasively collected samples, we identify the circulation of at least two distinct monkeypox virus lineages and document the shedding of infectious particles in faeces and flies, suggesting that they could mediate indirect transmission. We also show that the carnivorous component of the Taï chimpanzees' diet, mainly consisting of the sympatric monkeys they regularly hunt, did not change nor shift towards rodent consumption (the presumed reservoir) before the outbreaks, suggesting that the sudden emergence of monkeypox virus in this population is probably due to changes in the ecology of the virus itself. Using long-term mortality surveillance data from Taï National Park, we provide evidence of little to no prior viral activity over at least two decades. We conclude that great ape sentinel systems devoted to the longitudinal collection of behavioural and health data can help clarify the epidemiology and clinical presentation of zoonotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia V Patrono
- Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kamilla Pléh
- Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
| | - Liran Samuni
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Ulrich
- Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Caroline Röthemeier
- Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Sachse
- Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silvia Muschter
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens and German Reference Laboratory for Poxviruses (ZBS1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens and German Reference Laboratory for Poxviruses (ZBS1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emmanuel Couacy-Hymann
- Laboratoire National D'appui au Développement Agricole/Laboratoire Central de Pathologie Animale, Bingerville, Ivory Coast
| | - Christophe Boesch
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roman M Wittig
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Fabian H Leendertz
- Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
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83
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Gong Y, Wen G, Jiang J, Xie F. Codon bias analysis may be insufficient for identifying host(s) of a novel virus. J Med Virol 2020; 92:1434-1436. [PMID: 32379350 PMCID: PMC7267327 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhou Gong
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Guannan Wen
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianping Jiang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Xie
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
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84
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Jermiin LS, Catullo RA, Holland BR. A new phylogenetic protocol: dealing with model misspecification and confirmation bias in molecular phylogenetics. NAR Genom Bioinform 2020; 2:lqaa041. [PMID: 33575594 PMCID: PMC7671319 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqaa041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular phylogenetics plays a key role in comparative genomics and has increasingly significant impacts on science, industry, government, public health and society. In this paper, we posit that the current phylogenetic protocol is missing two critical steps, and that their absence allows model misspecification and confirmation bias to unduly influence phylogenetic estimates. Based on the potential offered by well-established but under-used procedures, such as assessment of phylogenetic assumptions and tests of goodness of fit, we introduce a new phylogenetic protocol that will reduce confirmation bias and increase the accuracy of phylogenetic estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars S Jermiin
- CSIRO Land & Water, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- School of Biology & Environment Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Renee A Catullo
- CSIRO Land & Water, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- School of Science and Health & Hawkesbury Institute of the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Barbara R Holland
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
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85
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Identification of Common CD8 + T Cell Epitopes from Lassa Fever Survivors in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.00153-20. [PMID: 32269122 PMCID: PMC7307091 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00153-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The high morbidity and mortality associated with clinical cases of Lassa fever, together with the lack of licensed vaccines and limited and partially effective interventions, make Lassa virus (LASV) an important health concern in its regions of endemicity in West Africa. Previous infection with LASV protects from disease after subsequent exposure, providing a framework for designing vaccines to elicit similar protective immunity. Multiple major lineages of LASV circulate in West Africa, and therefore, ideal vaccine candidates should elicit immunity to all lineages. We therefore sought to identify common T cell epitopes between Lassa fever survivors from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, where distinct lineages circulate. We identified three such epitopes derived from highly conserved regions within LASV proteins. In this process, we also identified nine other T cell epitopes. These data should help in the design of an effective pan-LASV vaccine. Early and robust T cell responses have been associated with survival from Lassa fever (LF), but the Lassa virus-specific memory responses have not been well characterized. Regions within the virus surface glycoprotein (GPC) and nucleoprotein (NP) are the main targets of the Lassa virus-specific T cell responses, but, to date, only a few T cell epitopes within these proteins have been identified. We identified GPC and NP regions containing T cell epitopes and HLA haplotypes from LF survivors and used predictive HLA-binding algorithms to identify putative epitopes, which were then experimentally tested using autologous survivor samples. We identified 12 CD8-positive (CD8+) T cell epitopes, including epitopes common to both Nigerian and Sierra Leonean survivors. These data should be useful for the identification of dominant Lassa virus-specific T cell responses in Lassa fever survivors and vaccinated individuals as well as for designing vaccines that elicit cell-mediated immunity. IMPORTANCE The high morbidity and mortality associated with clinical cases of Lassa fever, together with the lack of licensed vaccines and limited and partially effective interventions, make Lassa virus (LASV) an important health concern in its regions of endemicity in West Africa. Previous infection with LASV protects from disease after subsequent exposure, providing a framework for designing vaccines to elicit similar protective immunity. Multiple major lineages of LASV circulate in West Africa, and therefore, ideal vaccine candidates should elicit immunity to all lineages. We therefore sought to identify common T cell epitopes between Lassa fever survivors from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, where distinct lineages circulate. We identified three such epitopes derived from highly conserved regions within LASV proteins. In this process, we also identified nine other T cell epitopes. These data should help in the design of an effective pan-LASV vaccine.
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86
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Abstract
Lassa fever was first described as a clinical entity fifty years ago. The causative agent Lassa virus was isolated from these first known cases. This chapter reviews the key publications on Lassa fever research that appeared in the scientific literature at that time and over the ensuing decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA. .,Zalgen Labs, LLC, 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Suite 2083, Germantown, MD, 20876, USA.
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87
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Boisen ML, Uyigue E, Aiyepada J, Siddle KJ, Oestereich L, Nelson DKS, Bush DJ, Rowland MM, Heinrich ML, Eromon P, Kayode AT, Odia I, Adomeh DI, Muoebonam EB, Akhilomen P, Okonofua G, Osiemi B, Omoregie O, Airende M, Agbukor J, Ehikhametalor S, Aire CO, Duraffour S, Pahlmann M, Böhm W, Barnes KG, Mehta S, Momoh M, Sandi JD, Goba A, Folarin OA, Ogbaini-Emovan E, Asogun DA, Tobin EA, Akpede GO, Okogbenin SA, Okokhere PO, Grant DS, Schieffelin JS, Sabeti PC, Günther S, Happi CT, Branco LM, Garry RF. Field evaluation of a Pan-Lassa rapid diagnostic test during the 2018 Nigerian Lassa fever outbreak. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8724. [PMID: 32457420 PMCID: PMC7250850 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65736-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is the causative agent of Lassa fever (LF), an often-fatal hemorrhagic disease. LF is endemic in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and other West African countries. Diagnosis of LASV infection is challenged by the genetic diversity of the virus, which is greatest in Nigeria. The ReLASV Pan-Lassa Antigen Rapid Test (Pan-Lassa RDT) is a point-of-care, in vitro diagnostic test that utilizes a mixture of polyclonal antibodies raised against recombinant nucleoproteins of representative strains from the three most prevalent LASV lineages (II, III and IV). We compared the performance of the Pan-LASV RDT to available quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays during the 2018 LF outbreak in Nigeria. For patients with acute LF (RDT positive, IgG/IgM negative) during initial screening, RDT performance was 83.3% sensitivity and 92.8% specificity when compared to composite results of two qPCR assays. 100% of samples that gave Ct values below 22 on both qPCR assays were positive on the Pan-Lassa RDT. There were significantly elevated case fatality rates and elevated liver transaminase levels in subjects whose samples were RDT positive compared to RDT negative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eghosa Uyigue
- The African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - John Aiyepada
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Katherine J Siddle
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Center for Systems Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Oestereich
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Philomena Eromon
- The African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Adeyemi T Kayode
- The African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Ikponmwosa Odia
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Donatus I Adomeh
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Ekene B Muoebonam
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Patience Akhilomen
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Grace Okonofua
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Blessing Osiemi
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Omigie Omoregie
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Michael Airende
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Jacqueline Agbukor
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Solomon Ehikhametalor
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Chris Okafi Aire
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Sophie Duraffour
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Meike Pahlmann
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wiebke Böhm
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kayla G Barnes
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samar Mehta
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Eastern Polytechnic Institute, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - John Demby Sandi
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Augustine Goba
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Onikepe A Folarin
- The African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovan
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Danny A Asogun
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Ekaete A Tobin
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - George O Akpede
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Sylvanus A Okogbenin
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Peter O Okokhere
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- The Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- The Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Donald S Grant
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - John S Schieffelin
- Sections of Infectious Disease, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Center for Systems Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Stephan Günther
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian T Happi
- The African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria.
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria.
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | | - Robert F Garry
- Zalgen Labs, LLC, Germantown, MD, USA.
- Tulane Health Sciences Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Tulane University, School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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88
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Klitting R, Mehta SB, Oguzie JU, Oluniyi PE, Pauthner MG, Siddle KJ, Andersen KG, Happi CT, Sabeti PC. Lassa Virus Genetics. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2020. [PMID: 32418034 DOI: 10.1007/82_2020_212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In a pattern repeated across a range of ecological niches, arenaviruses have evolved a compact four-gene genome to orchestrate a complex life cycle in a narrow range of susceptible hosts. A number of mammalian arenaviruses cross-infect humans, often causing a life-threatening viral hemorrhagic fever. Among this group of geographically bound zoonoses, Lassa virus has evolved a unique niche that leads to significant and sustained human morbidity and mortality. As a biosafety level 4 pathogen, direct study of the pathogenesis of Lassa virus is limited by the sparse availability, high operating costs, and technical restrictions of the high-level biocontainment laboratories required for safe experimentation. In this chapter, we introduce the relationship between genome structure and the life cycle of Lassa virus and outline reverse genetic approaches used to probe and describe functional elements of the Lassa virus genome. We then review the tools used to obtain viral genomic sequences used for phylogeny and molecular diagnostics, before shifting to a population perspective to assess the contributions of phylogenetic analysis in understanding the evolution and ecology of Lassa virus in West Africa. We finally consider the future outlook and clinical applications for genetic study of Lassa virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaëlle Klitting
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Samar B Mehta
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Judith U Oguzie
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Paul E Oluniyi
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Matthias G Pauthner
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Kristian G Andersen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Christian T Happi
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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89
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Akhmetzhanov AR, Asai Y, Nishiura H. Quantifying the seasonal drivers of transmission for Lassa fever in Nigeria. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 374:20180268. [PMID: 31056054 PMCID: PMC6553602 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a zoonotic disease that is widespread in West Africa and involves animal-to-human and human-to-human transmission. Animal-to-human transmission occurs upon exposure to rodent excreta and secretions, i.e. urine and saliva, and human-to-human transmission occurs via the bodily fluids of an infected person. To elucidate the seasonal drivers of LF epidemics, we employed a mathematical model to analyse the datasets of human infection, rodent population dynamics and climatological variations and capture the underlying transmission dynamics. The surveillance-based incidence data of human cases in Nigeria were explored, and moreover, a mathematical model was used for describing the transmission dynamics of LF in rodent populations. While quantifying the case fatality risk and the rate of exposure of humans to animals, we explicitly estimated the corresponding contact rate of humans with infected rodents, accounting for the seasonal population dynamics of rodents. Our findings reveal that seasonal migratory dynamics of rodents play a key role in regulating the cyclical pattern of LF epidemics. The estimated timing of high exposure of humans to animals coincides with the time shortly after the start of the dry season and can be associated with the breeding season of rodents in Nigeria. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: approaches and important themes’. This issue is linked with the subsequent theme issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: epidemic forecasting and control’.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yusuke Asai
- Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University , Sapporo, Hokkaido , Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nishiura
- Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University , Sapporo, Hokkaido , Japan
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90
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Population structure of Lassa Mammarenavirus in West Africa. Viruses 2020; 12:v12040437. [PMID: 32294960 PMCID: PMC7232344 DOI: 10.3390/v12040437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa mammarenavirus (LASV) is the etiologic agent of Lassa fever. In endemic regions in West Africa, LASV genetic diversity tends to cluster by geographic area. Seven LASV lineages are recognized, but the role of viral genetic determinants on disease presentation in humans is uncertain. We investigated the geographic structure and distribution of LASV in West Africa. We found strong spatial clustering of LASV populations, with two major east–west and north–south diversity gradients. Analysis of ancestry components indicated that known LASV lineages diverged from an ancestral population that most likely circulated in Nigeria, although alternative locations, such as Togo, cannot be excluded. Extant sequences carrying the largest contribution of this ancestral population include the prototype Pinneo strain, the Togo isolates, and a few viruses isolated in Nigeria. The LASV populations that experienced the strongest drift circulate in Mali and the Ivory Coast. By focusing on sequences form a single LASV sublineage (IIg), we identified an ancestry component possibly associated with protection from a fatal disease outcome. Although the same ancestry component tends to associate with lower viral loads in plasma, the small sample size requires that these results are treated with extreme caution.
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91
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Ibukun FI. Inter-Lineage Variation of Lassa Virus Glycoprotein Epitopes: A Challenge to Lassa Virus Vaccine Development. Viruses 2020; 12:v12040386. [PMID: 32244402 PMCID: PMC7232328 DOI: 10.3390/v12040386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), which causes considerable morbidity and mortality annually, has a high genetic diversity across West Africa. LASV glycoprotein (GP) expresses this diversity, but most LASV vaccine candidates utilize only the Lineage IV LASV Josiah strain GP antigen as an immunogen and homologous challenge with Lineage IV LASV. In addition to the sequence variation amongst the LASV lineages, these lineages are also distinguished in their presentations. Inter-lineage variations within previously mapped B-cell and T-cell LASV GP epitopes and the breadth of protection in LASV vaccine/challenge studies were examined critically. Multiple alignments of the GP primary sequence of strains from each LASV lineage showed that LASV GP has diverging degrees of amino acid conservation within known epitopes among LASV lineages. Conformational B-cell epitopes spanning different sites in GP subunits were less impacted by LASV diversity. LASV GP diversity should influence the approach used for LASV vaccine design. Expression of LASV GP on viral vectors, especially in its prefusion configuration, has shown potential for protective LASV vaccines that can overcome LASV diversity. Advanced vaccine candidates should demonstrate efficacy against all LASV lineages for evidence of a pan-LASV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Ifedayo Ibukun
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21201, MD, USA
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92
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Asogun DA, Günther S, Akpede GO, Ihekweazu C, Zumla A. Lassa Fever: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis, Management and Prevention. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2020; 33:933-951. [PMID: 31668199 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Lassa fever outbreaks West Africa have caused up to 10,000 deaths annually. Primary infection occurs from contact with Lassa virus-infected rodents and exposure to their excreta, blood, or meat. Incubation takes 2 to 21 days. Symptoms are difficult to distinguish from malaria, typhoid, dengue, yellow fever, and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic, to mild, to severe fulminant disease. Ribavirin can improve outcomes. Overall mortality is between 1% and 15%. Lassa fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis with travel to West Africa. There is an urgent need for rapid field-friendly diagnostics and preventive vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny A Asogun
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria; Department of Public Health, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 008, Kilometre 87, Benin City-Auchi Road, Irrua, Nigeria.
| | - Stephan Günther
- Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Strab 74, Hamburg 20359, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - George O Akpede
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | - Chikwe Ihekweazu
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Plot 801, Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Alimuddin Zumla
- Center for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, Royal Free Campus 2nd Floor, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
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93
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Olayemi A, Fichet-Calvet E. Systematics, Ecology, and Host Switching: Attributes Affecting Emergence of the Lassa Virus in Rodents across Western Africa. Viruses 2020; 12:E312. [PMID: 32183319 PMCID: PMC7150792 DOI: 10.3390/v12030312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ever since it was established that rodents serve as reservoirs of the zoonotic Lassa virus (LASV), scientists have sought to answer the questions: which populations of rodents carry the virus? How do fluctuations in LASV prevalence and rodent abundance influence Lassa fever outbreaks in humans? What does it take for the virus to adopt additional rodent hosts, proliferating what already are devastating cycles of rodent-to-human transmission? In this review, we examine key aspects of research involving the biology of rodents that affect their role as LASV reservoirs, including phylogeography, demography, virus evolution, and host switching. We discuss how this knowledge can help control Lassa fever and suggest further areas for investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji Olayemi
- Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife HO220005, Nigeria;
| | - Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet
- Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
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94
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Animal Models of Lassa Fever. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9030197. [PMID: 32155851 PMCID: PMC7157617 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9030197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of Lassa fever, is estimated to be responsible for up to 300,000 new infections and 5000 deaths each year across Western Africa. The most recent 2018 and 2019 Nigerian outbreaks featured alarmingly high fatality rates of up to 25.4%. In addition to the severity and high fatality of the disease, a significant population of survivors suffer from long-term sequelae, such as sensorineural hearing loss, resulting in a huge socioeconomic burden in endemic regions. There are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccines, and therapeutics remain extremely limited for Lassa fever. Development of countermeasures depends on relevant animal models that can develop a disease strongly mimicking the pathogenic features of Lassa fever in humans. The objective of this review is to evaluate the currently available animal models for LASV infection with an emphasis on their pathogenic and histologic characteristics as well as recent advances in the development of a suitable rodent model. This information may facilitate the development of an improved animal model for understanding disease pathogenesis of Lassa fever and for vaccine or antiviral testing.
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95
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High crossreactivity of human T cell responses between Lassa virus lineages. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008352. [PMID: 32142546 PMCID: PMC7080273 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus infects hundreds of thousands of people each year across rural West Africa, resulting in a high number of cases of Lassa fever (LF), a febrile disease associated with high morbidity and significant mortality. The lack of approved treatments or interventions underscores the need for an effective vaccine. At least four viral lineages circulate in defined regions throughout West Africa with substantial interlineage nucleotide and amino acid diversity. An effective vaccine should be designed to elicit Lassa virus specific humoral and cell mediated immunity across all lineages. Most current vaccine candidates use only lineage IV antigens encoded by Lassa viruses circulating around Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea but not Nigeria where lineages I-III are found. As previous infection is known to protect against disease from subsequent exposure, we sought to determine whether LF survivors from Nigeria and Sierra Leone harbor memory T cells that respond to lineage IV antigens. Our results indicate a high degree of cross-reactivity of CD8+ T cells from Nigerian LF survivors to lineage IV antigens. In addition, we identified regions within the Lassa virus glycoprotein complex and nucleoprotein that contributed to these responses while T cell epitopes were not widely conserved across our study group. These data are important for current efforts to design effective and efficient vaccine candidates that can elicit protective immunity across all Lassa virus lineages. Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of the hemorrhagic illness Lassa fever (LF), is found throughout West Africa. Humans are usually infected after contact with infected rodent excreta or aerosolized virus. The mortality rate among hospitalized LF cases is high and no effective treatments or vaccines exist. A vaccine effective against the four main lineages of LASV is needed to protect susceptible individuals across West Africa. To understand how this protection could occur, we examined the immune responses of LF survivors from two different regions of West Africa. As previous infection with Lassa virus protects from disease after subsequent exposure, the immune response of LF survivors provides a model of protective immunity that could be induced after vaccination. We found that LASV strains from lineages different from those that infected the LF survivors efficiently activated memory CD8+ T cell responses. We identified regions within LASV proteins that elicit memory responses in the majority of individuals. From these data, we propose that an effective vaccine that protects against lineages across West Africa should be designed to elicit memory CD8+ T cell responses in addition to antibody responses.
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96
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Adaptive genetic diversification of Lassa virus associated with the epidemic split of north-central Nigerian and non-Nigerian lineages. Virology 2020; 545:10-15. [PMID: 32174454 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2020.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic fever that causes high morbidity and severe mortality annually. The disease is endemic to two geographically separate areas within tropical West Africa, one in Nigeria and the second predominantly in Sierra Leone-Guinea-Liberia-Mali. Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of the disease, exhibits clear delineation of phylogeography between the endemic areas. In order to characterize the genetic nature of Nigerian-non-Nigerian epidemic split, we performed molecular epidemiological analyses on non-Nigerian isolates (lineage IV as well as lineage V) and their sister group from north-central Nigeria (lineage III). The results showed that adaptive genetic diversification has occurred between these currently circulating clusters in the spread process, and a number of replacement divergences have been fixed between these clusters on the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L protein). This study highlights the viral L protein could be a determinant factor for the epidemic split.
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97
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Musa SS, Zhao S, Gao D, Lin Q, Chowell G, He D. Mechanistic modelling of the large-scale Lassa fever epidemics in Nigeria from 2016 to 2019. J Theor Biol 2020; 493:110209. [PMID: 32097608 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Lassa fever, also known as Lassa hemorrhagic fever, is a virus that has generated recurrent outbreaks in West Africa. We use mechanistic modelling to study the Lassa fever epidemics in Nigeria from 2016-19. Our model describes the interaction between human and rodent populations with the consideration of quarantine, isolation and hospitalization processes. Our model supports the phenomenon of forward bifurcation where the stability between disease-free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium exchanges. Moreover, our model captures well the incidence curves from surveillance data. In particular, our model is able to reconstruct the periodic rodent and human forces of infection. Furthermore, we suggest that the three major epidemics from 2016-19 can be modelled by properly characterizing the rodent (or human) force of infection while the estimated human force of infection also present similar patterns across outbreaks. Our results suggest that the initial susceptibility likely increased across the three outbreaks from 2016-19. Our results highlight the similarity of the transmission dynamics driving three major Lassa fever outbreaks in the endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salihu S Musa
- Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; Department of Mathematics, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Nigeria
| | - Shi Zhao
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Shenzhen Research Institute of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Daozhou Gao
- Mathematics and Science College, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianying Lin
- Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; Michigan Institute for Data Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gerardo Chowell
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Fogarty International Center, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daihai He
- Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
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98
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Abstract
Influenza viruses rapidly diversify within individual human infections. Several recent studies have deep-sequenced clinical influenza infections to identify viral variation within hosts, but it remains unclear how within-host mutations fare at the between-host scale. Here, we compare the genetic variation of H3N2 influenza within and between hosts to link viral evolutionary dynamics across scales. Synonymous sites evolve at similar rates at both scales, indicating that global evolution at these putatively neutral sites results from the accumulation of within-host variation. However, nonsynonymous mutations are depleted between hosts compared to within hosts, suggesting that selection purges many of the protein-altering changes that arise within hosts. The exception is at antigenic sites, where selection detectably favors nonsynonymous mutations at the global scale, but not within hosts. These results suggest that selection against deleterious mutations and selection for antigenic change are the main forces that act on within-host variants of influenza virus as they transmit and circulate between hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Xue
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Foege Building S-250, Box 3550653720 15th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98195-5065, USA.,Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA.,Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jesse D Bloom
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Foege Building S-250, Box 3550653720 15th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98195-5065, USA.,Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA
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99
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Hardin A, Nevonen KA, Eckalbar WL, Carbone L, Ahituv N. Comparative Genomic Characterization of the Multimammate Mouse Mastomys coucha. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 36:2805-2812. [PMID: 31424545 PMCID: PMC6878952 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mastomys are the most widespread African rodent and carriers of various diseases such as the plague or Lassa virus. In addition, mastomys have rapidly gained a large number of mammary glands. Here, we generated a genome, variome, and transcriptomes for Mastomys coucha. As mastomys diverged at similar times from mouse and rat, we demonstrate their utility as a comparative genomic tool for these commonly used animal models. Furthermore, we identified over 500 mastomys accelerated regions, often residing near important mammary developmental genes or within their exons leading to protein sequence changes. Functional characterization of a noncoding mastomys accelerated region, located in the HoxD locus, showed enhancer activity in mouse developing mammary glands. Combined, our results provide genomic resources for mastomys and highlight their potential both as a comparative genomic tool and for the identification of mammary gland number determining factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Hardin
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kimberly A Nevonen
- Department of Medicine, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Walter L Eckalbar
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lucia Carbone
- Department of Medicine, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR.,Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR.,Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR.,Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR
| | - Nadav Ahituv
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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100
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Determining Ancestry between Rodent- and Human-Derived Virus Sequences in Endemic Foci: Towards a More Integral Molecular Epidemiology of Lassa Fever within West Africa. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9020026. [PMID: 32046182 PMCID: PMC7167862 DOI: 10.3390/biology9020026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness responsible for thousands of human deaths in West Africa yearly. Rodents are known as natural reservoirs of the causative Lassa mammarenavirus (LASV) while humans are regarded as incidental, spill-over hosts. Analysis of genetic sequences continues to add to our understanding of the evolutionary history, emergence patterns, and the epidemiology of LASV. Hitherto, the source of data in such investigations has mainly comprised human clinical samples. Presently, a rise in the quantity of virus strains accessed through ecological studies over the last 15 years now allows us to explore how LASV sequences obtained from rodents might affect phylogenetic patterns. In this study, we phylogenetically compared LASV sequences obtained from both rodents and humans across West Africa, including those from two localities highly endemic for the disease: Ekpoma in Nigeria and Kenema in Sierra Leone. We performed a time-calibrated phylogeny, using a Bayesian analysis on 198 taxa, including 102 sequences from rodents and 96 from humans. Contrary to expectation, our results show that LASV strains detected in humans within these localities, even those sampled recently, are consistently ancient to those circulating in rodents in the same area. We discuss the possibilities connected to this preliminary outcome. We also propose modalities to guide more comprehensive comparisons of human and rodent data in LASV molecular epidemiological studies.
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