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Hashizume M, Takashima A, Iwasaki M. An mRNA-LNP-based Lassa virus vaccine induces protective immunity in mice. J Virol 2024; 98:e0057824. [PMID: 38767352 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00578-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammarenavirus Lassa virus (LASV) causes the life-threatening hemorrhagic fever disease, Lassa fever. The lack of licensed medical countermeasures against LASV underscores the urgent need for the development of novel LASV vaccines, which has been hampered by the requirement for a biosafety level 4 facility to handle live LASV. Here, we investigated the efficacy of mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP)-based vaccines expressing the LASV glycoprotein precursor (LASgpc) or nucleoprotein (LCMnp) of the prototypic mammarenavirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), in mice. Two doses of LASgpc- or LCMnp-mRNA-LNP administered intravenously (i.v.) protected C57BL/6 mice from a lethal challenge with a recombinant (r) LCMV expressing a modified LASgpc (rLCMV/LASgpc2m) inoculated intracranially. Intramuscular (i.m.) immunization with two doses of LASgpc- or LCMnp-mRNA-LNP significantly reduced the viral load in C57BL/6 mice inoculated i.v. with rLCMV/LASgpc2m. High levels of viremia and lethality were observed in CBA mice inoculated i.v. with rLCMV/LASgpc2m, which were abrogated by i.m. immunization with two doses of LASgpc-mRNA-LNP. The protective efficacy of two i.m. doses of LCMnp-mRNA-LNP was confirmed in a lethal hemorrhagic disease model of FVB mice i.v. inoculated with wild-type rLCMV. In all conditions tested, negligible and high levels of LASgpc- and LCMnp-specific antibodies were detected in mRNA-LNP-immunized mice, respectively, but robust LASgpc- and LCMnp-specific CD8+ T cell responses were induced. Accordingly, plasma from LASgpc-mRNA-LNP-immunized mice did not exhibit neutralizing activity. Our findings and surrogate mouse models of LASV infection, which can be studied at a reduced biocontainment level, provide a critical foundation for the rapid development of mRNA-LNP-based LASV vaccines.IMPORTANCELassa virus (LASV) is a highly pathogenic mammarenavirus responsible for several hundred thousand infections annually in West African countries, causing a high number of lethal Lassa fever (LF) cases. Despite its significant impact on human health, clinically approved, safe, and effective medical countermeasures against LF are not available. The requirement of a biosafety level 4 facility to handle live LASV has been one of the main obstacles to the research and development of LASV countermeasures. Here, we report that two doses of mRNA-lipid nanoparticle-based vaccines expressing the LASV glycoprotein precursor (LASgpc) or nucleoprotein (LCMnp) of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a mammarenavirus genetically closely related to LASV, conferred protection to recombinant LCMV-based surrogate mouse models of lethal LASV infection. Notably, robust LASgpc- and LCMnp-specific CD8+ T cell responses were detected in mRNA-LNP-immunized mice, whereas no virus-neutralizing activity was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Hashizume
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Diseases, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ayako Takashima
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Diseases, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaharu Iwasaki
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Diseases, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and Drug Delivery System, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- RNA Frontier Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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2
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Gorman J, Cheung CSF, Duan Z, Ou L, Wang M, Chen X, Cheng C, Biju A, Sun Y, Wang P, Yang Y, Zhang B, Boyington JC, Bylund T, Charaf S, Chen SJ, Du H, Henry AR, Liu T, Sarfo EK, Schramm CA, Shen CH, Stephens T, Teng IT, Todd JP, Tsybovsky Y, Verardi R, Wang D, Wang S, Wang Z, Zheng CY, Zhou T, Douek DC, Mascola JR, Ho DD, Ho M, Kwong PD. Cleavage-intermediate Lassa virus trimer elicits neutralizing responses, identifies neutralizing nanobodies, and reveals an apex-situated site-of-vulnerability. Nat Commun 2024; 15:285. [PMID: 38177144 PMCID: PMC10767048 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44534-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) infection is expanding outside its traditionally endemic areas in West Africa, posing a pandemic biothreat. LASV-neutralizing antibodies, moreover, have proven difficult to elicit. To gain insight into LASV neutralization, here we develop a prefusion-stabilized LASV glycoprotein trimer (GPC), pan it against phage libraries comprising single-domain antibodies (nanobodies) from shark and camel, and identify one, D5, which neutralizes LASV. Cryo-EM analyses reveal D5 to recognize a cleavage-dependent site-of-vulnerability at the trimer apex. The recognized site appears specific to GPC intermediates, with protomers lacking full cleavage between GP1 and GP2 subunits. Guinea pig immunizations with the prefusion-stabilized cleavage-intermediate LASV GPC, first as trimer and then as a nanoparticle, induce neutralizing responses, targeting multiple epitopes including that of D5; we identify a neutralizing antibody (GP23) from the immunized guinea pigs. Collectively, our findings define a prefusion-stabilized GPC trimer, reveal an apex-situated site-of-vulnerability, and demonstrate elicitation of LASV-neutralizing responses by a cleavage-intermediate LASV trimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Gorman
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | | | - Zhijian Duan
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Li Ou
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Maple Wang
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Xuejun Chen
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Cheng Cheng
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Andrea Biju
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Yaping Sun
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Pengfei Wang
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Yongping Yang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Baoshan Zhang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Boyington
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Tatsiana Bylund
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sam Charaf
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Steven J Chen
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Haijuan Du
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Amy R Henry
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Tracy Liu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Edward K Sarfo
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Chaim A Schramm
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Chen-Hsiang Shen
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Tyler Stephens
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - I-Ting Teng
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - John-Paul Todd
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Yaroslav Tsybovsky
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Raffaello Verardi
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Danyi Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Shuishu Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Zhantong Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Cheng-Yan Zheng
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Tongqing Zhou
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Daniel C Douek
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - John R Mascola
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - David D Ho
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Mitchell Ho
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Peter D Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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Wang S, Liang B, Wang W, Li L, Feng N, Zhao Y, Wang T, Yan F, Yang S, Xia X. Viral vectored vaccines: design, development, preventive and therapeutic applications in human diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:149. [PMID: 37029123 PMCID: PMC10081433 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01408-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Human diseases, particularly infectious diseases and cancers, pose unprecedented challenges to public health security and the global economy. The development and distribution of novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines are the prioritized countermeasures of human disease. Among all vaccine platforms, viral vector vaccines offer distinguished advantages and represent prominent choices for pathogens that have hampered control efforts based on conventional vaccine approaches. Currently, viral vector vaccines remain one of the best strategies for induction of robust humoral and cellular immunity against human diseases. Numerous viruses of different families and origins, including vesicular stomatitis virus, rabies virus, parainfluenza virus, measles virus, Newcastle disease virus, influenza virus, adenovirus and poxvirus, are deemed to be prominent viral vectors that differ in structural characteristics, design strategy, antigen presentation capability, immunogenicity and protective efficacy. This review summarized the overall profile of the design strategies, progress in advance and steps taken to address barriers to the deployment of these viral vector vaccines, simultaneously highlighting their potential for mucosal delivery, therapeutic application in cancer as well as other key aspects concerning the rational application of these viral vector vaccines. Appropriate and accurate technological advances in viral vector vaccines would consolidate their position as a leading approach to accelerate breakthroughs in novel vaccines and facilitate a rapid response to public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Bo Liang
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Weiqi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ling Li
- China National Research Center for Exotic Animal Diseases, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Na Feng
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Yongkun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Tiecheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Feihu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China.
| | - Songtao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China.
| | - Xianzhu Xia
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China.
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Tschismarov R, Van Damme P, Germain C, De Coster I, Mateo M, Reynard S, Journeaux A, Tomberger Y, Withanage K, Haslwanter D, Terler K, Schrauf S, Müllner M, Tauber E, Ramsauer K, Baize S. Immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of a recombinant measles-vectored Lassa fever vaccine: a randomised, placebo-controlled, first-in-human trial. Lancet 2023; 401:1267-1276. [PMID: 36934733 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)00048-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa fever is a substantial health burden in west Africa. We evaluated the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a recombinant, live-attenuated, measles-vectored Lassa fever vaccine candidate (MV-LASV). METHODS This first-in-human phase 1 trial-consisting of an open-label dose-escalation stage and an observer-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled treatment stage-was conducted at a single site at the University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, and involved healthy adults aged 18-55 years. Participants in the dose-escalation stage were sequentially assigned to a low-dose group (two intramuscular doses of MV-LASV at 2 × 104 times the median tissue culture infectious dose) or a high-dose group (two doses at 1 × 105 times the median tissue culture infectious dose). Participants in the double-blinded treatment stage were randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive low dose, high dose, or placebo. The primary endpoint was the rate of solicited and unsolicited adverse events up to study day 56 and was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of investigational product. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04055454, and the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database, 2018-003647-40, and is complete. FINDINGS Between Sept 26, 2019, and Jan 20, 2020, 60 participants were enrolled and assigned to receive placebo (n=12) or MV-LASV (n=48). All 60 participants received at least one study treatment. Most adverse events occurred during the treatment phase, and frequencies of total solicited or unsolicited adverse events were similar between treatment groups, with 96% of participants in the low-dose group, 100% of those in the high-dose group, and 92% of those in the placebo group having any solicited adverse event (p=0·6751) and 76% of those in the low-dose group, 70% of those in the high-dose group, and 100% of those in the placebo group having any unsolicited adverse event (p=0·1047). The only significant difference related to local solicited adverse events, with higher frequencies observed in groups receiving MV-LASV (24 [96%] of 25 participants in the low-dose group; all 23 [100%] participants in the high-dose group) than in the placebo group (6 [50%] of 12 participants; p=0·0001, Fisher-Freeman-Halton test). Adverse events were mostly of mild or moderate severity, and no serious adverse events were observed. MV-LASV also induced substantial concentrations of LASV-specific IgG (geometric mean titre 62·9 EU/ml in the low-dose group and 145·9 EU/ml in the high-dose group on day 42). INTERPRETATION MV-LASV showed an acceptable safety and tolerability profile, and immunogenicity seemed to be unaffected by pre-existing immunity against the vector. MV-LASV is therefore a promising candidate for further development. FUNDING Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Tschismarov
- Themis Bioscience, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA.
| | - Pierre Van Damme
- Center for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Clara Germain
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Ilse De Coster
- Center for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Mateo
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Stephanie Reynard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Alexandra Journeaux
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France
| | - Yvonne Tomberger
- Themis Bioscience, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Kanchanamala Withanage
- Center for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Denise Haslwanter
- Themis Bioscience, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Katherine Terler
- Themis Bioscience, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Sabrina Schrauf
- Themis Bioscience, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Matthias Müllner
- Themis Bioscience, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Erich Tauber
- Themis Bioscience, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Katrin Ramsauer
- Themis Bioscience, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Sylvain Baize
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
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5
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Mateo M, Reynard S, Pietrosemoli N, Perthame E, Journeaux A, Noy K, Germain C, Carnec X, Picard C, Borges-Cardoso V, Hortion J, Lopez-Maestre H, Regnard P, Fellmann L, Vallve A, Barron S, Jourjon O, Lacroix O, Duthey A, Dirheimer M, Daniau M, Legras-Lachuer C, Carbonnelle C, Raoul H, Tangy F, Baize S. Rapid protection induced by a single-shot Lassa vaccine in male cynomolgus monkeys. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1352. [PMID: 36906645 PMCID: PMC10008018 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37050-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever hits West African countries annually in the absence of licensed vaccine to limit the burden of this viral hemorrhagic fever. We previously developed MeV-NP, a single-shot vaccine protecting cynomolgus monkeys against divergent strains one month or more than a year before Lassa virus infection. Given the limited dissemination area during outbreaks and the risk of nosocomial transmission, a vaccine inducing rapid protection could be useful to protect exposed people during outbreaks in the absence of preventive vaccination. Here, we test whether the time to protection can be reduced after immunization by challenging measles virus pre-immune male cynomolgus monkeys sixteen or eight days after a single shot of MeV-NP. None of the immunized monkeys develop disease and they rapidly control viral replication. Animals immunized eight days before the challenge are the best controllers, producing a strong CD8 T-cell response against the viral glycoprotein. A group of animals was also vaccinated one hour after the challenge, but was not protected and succumbed to the disease as the control animals. This study demonstrates that MeV-NP can induce a rapid protective immune response against Lassa fever in the presence of MeV pre-existing immunity but can likely not be used as therapeutic vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Mateo
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphanie Reynard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Natalia Pietrosemoli
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Emeline Perthame
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Journeaux
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Kodie Noy
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Clara Germain
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Xavier Carnec
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Caroline Picard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Virginie Borges-Cardoso
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Jimmy Hortion
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Hélène Lopez-Maestre
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Pierrick Regnard
- SILABE, Université de Strasbourg, fort Foch, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Lyne Fellmann
- SILABE, Université de Strasbourg, fort Foch, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Audrey Vallve
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Barron
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Ophélie Jourjon
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Orianne Lacroix
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Aurélie Duthey
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Manon Dirheimer
- INSERM, Délégation Régionale Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, 69500, Bron, France
| | | | | | | | - Hervé Raoul
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Frédéric Tangy
- Vaccine Innovation Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Baize
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France. .,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France.
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6
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Malik S, Bora J, Dhasmana A, Kishore S, Nag S, Preetam S, Uniyal P, Slama P, Mukherjee N, Haque S, Swed S. An update on current understanding of the epidemiology and management of the re-emerging endemic Lassa fever outbreaks. Int J Surg 2023; 109:584-586. [PMID: 37093095 PMCID: PMC10389424 DOI: 10.1097/js9.0000000000000178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sumira Malik
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, Jharkhand
| | - Jutishna Bora
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, Jharkhand
| | - Archna Dhasmana
- Himalayan School of Biosciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University
| | - Shristi Kishore
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, Jharkhand
| | - Sagnik Nag
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences & Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu
| | | | - Priyanka Uniyal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Sardar Bhagwan Singh University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
| | - Petr Slama
- Laboratory of Animal Immunology and Biotechnology, Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nobendu Mukherjee
- Department of Microbiology, West Bengal State University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
- Department of Health Sciences, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sarya Swed
- Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria
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7
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Grant DS, Engel EJ, Roberts Yerkes N, Kanneh L, Koninga J, Gbakie MA, Alhasan F, Kanneh FB, Kanneh IM, Kamara FK, Momoh M, Yillah MS, Foday M, Okoli A, Zeoli A, Weldon C, Bishop CM, Zheng C, Hartnett J, Chao K, Shore K, Melnik LI, Mucci M, Bond NG, Doyle P, Yenni R, Podgorski R, Ficenec SC, Moses L, Shaffer JG, Garry RF, Schieffelin JS. Seroprevalence of anti-Lassa Virus IgG antibodies in three districts of Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional, population-based study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010938. [PMID: 36758101 PMCID: PMC9946222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa virus (LASV), the cause of the acute viral hemorrhagic illness Lassa fever (LF), is endemic in West Africa. Infections in humans occur mainly after exposure to infected excrement or urine of the rodent-host, Mastomys natalensis. The prevalence of exposure to LASV in Sierra Leone is crudely estimated and largely unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to establish a baseline point seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to LASV in three administrative districts of Sierra Leone and identify potential risk factors for seropositivity and LASV exposure. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Between 2015 and 2018, over 10,642 participants from Kenema, Tonkolili, and Port Loko Districts were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Previous LASV and LF epidemiological studies support classification of these districts as "endemic," "emerging," and "non-endemic", respectively. Dried blood spot samples were tested for LASV antibodies by ELISA to determine the seropositivity of participants, indicating previous exposure to LASV. Surveys were administered to each participant to assess demographic and environmental factors associated with a higher risk of exposure to LASV. Overall seroprevalence for antibodies to LASV was 16.0%. In Kenema, Port Loko, and Tonkolili Districts, seroprevalences were 20.1%, 14.1%, and 10.6%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, individuals were more likely to be LASV seropositive if they were living in Kenema District, regardless of sex, age, or occupation. Environmental factors contributed to an increased risk of LASV exposure, including poor housing construction and proximity to bushland, forested areas, and refuse. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE In this study we determine a baseline LASV seroprevalence in three districts which will inform future epidemiological, ecological, and clinical studies on LF and the LASV in Sierra Leone. The heterogeneity of the distribution of LASV and LF over both space, and time, can make the design of efficacy trials and intervention programs difficult. Having more studies on the prevalence of LASV and identifying potential hyper-endemic areas will greatly increase the awareness of LF and improve targeted control programs related to LASV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald S. Grant
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Emily J. Engel
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nicole Roberts Yerkes
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - James Koninga
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Michael A. Gbakie
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Foday Alhasan
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Franklyn B. Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Ibrahim Mustapha Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Fatima K. Kamara
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed S. Yillah
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Momoh Foday
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Adaora Okoli
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Ashley Zeoli
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Caroline Weldon
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Bishop
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Crystal Zheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jessica Hartnett
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Karissa Chao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Kayla Shore
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lilia I. Melnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Mallory Mucci
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nell G. Bond
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Philip Doyle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Rachael Yenni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Rachel Podgorski
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Samuel C. Ficenec
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lina Moses
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey G. Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Robert F. Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - John S. Schieffelin
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
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8
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Aloke C, Obasi NA, Aja PM, Emelike CU, Egwu CO, Jeje O, Edeogu CO, Onisuru OO, Orji OU, Achilonu I. Combating Lassa Fever in West African Sub-Region: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Viruses 2023; 15:146. [PMID: 36680186 PMCID: PMC9864412 DOI: 10.3390/v15010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a rodent-borne disease that threatens human health in the sub-region of West Africa where the zoonotic host of Lassa virus (LASV) is predominant. Currently, treatment options for LF are limited and since no preventive vaccine is approved for its infectivity, there is a high mortality rate in endemic areas. This narrative review explores the transmission, pathogenicity of LASV, advances, and challenges of different treatment options. Our findings indicate that genetic diversity among the different strains of LASV and their ability to circumvent the immune system poses a critical challenge to the development of LASV vaccines/therapeutics. Thus, understanding the biochemistry, physiology and genetic polymorphism of LASV, mechanism of evading host immunity are essential for development of effective LASV vaccines/therapeutics to combat this lethal viral disease. The LASV nucleoprotein (NP) is a novel target for therapeutics as it functions significantly in several aspects of the viral life cycle. Consequently, LASV NP inhibitors could be employed as effective therapeutics as they will potentially inhibit LASV replication. Effective preventive control measures, vaccine development, target validation, and repurposing of existing drugs, such as ribavirin, using activity or in silico-based and computational bioinformatics, would aid in the development of novel drugs for LF management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinyere Aloke
- Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki PMB 1010, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Nwogo Ajuka Obasi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki PMB 1010, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Patrick Maduabuchi Aja
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki PMB 053, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka P.O. Box 71, Uganda
| | - Chinedum Uche Emelike
- Department of Physiology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki PMB 1010, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Chinedu Ogbonnia Egwu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki PMB 1010, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Olamide Jeje
- Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Chuks Oswald Edeogu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki PMB 053, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Olalekan Olugbenga Onisuru
- Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Obasi Uche Orji
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki PMB 053, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
| | - Ikechukwu Achilonu
- Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
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9
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Mammarenavirus Genetic Diversity and Its Biological Implications. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 439:265-303. [PMID: 36592249 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15640-3_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Members of the family Arenaviridae are classified into four genera: Antennavirus, Hartmanivirus, Mammarenavirus, and Reptarenavirus. Reptarenaviruses and hartmaniviruses infect (captive) snakes and have been shown to cause boid inclusion body disease (BIBD). Antennaviruses have genomes consisting of 3, rather than 2, segments, and were discovered in actinopterygian fish by next-generation sequencing but no biological isolate has been reported yet. The hosts of mammarenaviruses are mainly rodents and infections are generally asymptomatic. Current knowledge about the biology of reptarenaviruses, hartmaniviruses, and antennaviruses is very limited and their zoonotic potential is unknown. In contrast, some mammarenaviruses are associated with zoonotic events that pose a threat to human health. This review will focus on mammarenavirus genetic diversity and its biological implications. Some mammarenaviruses including lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) are excellent experimental model systems for the investigation of acute and persistent viral infections, whereas others including Lassa (LASV) and Junin (JUNV) viruses, the causative agents of Lassa fever (LF) and Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF), respectively, are important human pathogens. Mammarenaviruses were thought to have high degree of intra-and inter-species amino acid sequence identities, but recent evidence has revealed a high degree of mammarenavirus genetic diversity in the field. Moreover, closely related mammarenavirus can display dramatic phenotypic differences in vivo. These findings support a role of genetic variability in mammarenavirus adaptability and pathogenesis. Here, we will review the molecular biology of mammarenaviruses, phylogeny, and evolution, as well as the quasispecies dynamics of mammarenavirus populations and their biological implications.
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10
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LaVergne SM, Sakabe S, Momoh M, Kanneh L, Bond N, Garry RF, Grant DS, de la Torre JC, Oldstone MBA, Schieffelin JS, Sullivan BM. Expansion of CD8+ T cell population in Lassa virus survivors with low T cell precursor frequency reveals durable immune response in most survivors. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010882. [PMID: 36441765 PMCID: PMC9731491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lassa virus is a priority pathogen for vaccine research and development, however the duration of cellular immunity and protection in Lassa fever (LF) survivors remains unclear. METHODS We investigated Lassa virus specific CD8+ T cell responses in 93 LF survivors. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these individuals were infected with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus encoding Lassa virus antigens and virus specific T cell responses were measured after 18-hour incubation. Participants who had undetectable CD8+ T cell response underwent further analysis using a 10-day T cell proliferation assays to evaluate for low T cell precursor frequency. RESULTS Forty-five of the 93 LF survivors did not have a Lassa virus specific CD8+ T cell response. Of those with responses and a known date of onset of LF (N = 11), 9 had LF within the last ten years. Most participants without a measurable CD8+ T cell response were more than 10 years removed from a clinical history of LF (N = 14/16). Fourteen of 21 patients (67%) with undetectable CD8+ T cell response had a measurable Lassa virus specific CD8+ T cell response with the 10-day assay. DISCUSSION Despite reports of strong CD8+ T cell responses during acute Lassa virus infection, circulating Lassa virus-specific CD8+ T cells declined to undetectable levels in most Lassa fever survivors after ten years when evaluated with an 18-hour T cell stimulation. However, when Lassa virus-specific T cells were expanded prior to restimulation, a Lassa virus-specific CD8+ T cell response could be detected in many if the samples that were negative in the 18-hour stimulation assay, suggesting that prolonged cellular immunity does exist in Lassa fever survivors at low frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. LaVergne
- Viral-Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Saori Sakabe
- Viral-Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Nell Bond
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Robert F. Garry
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - 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
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Viral-Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Michael B. A. Oldstone
- Viral-Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - John S. Schieffelin
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Brian M. Sullivan
- Viral-Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, San Diego, California, United States of America
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, San Diego, California, United States of America
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11
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Abstract
Lassa Fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. LF begins with flu-like symptoms that are difficult to distinguish from other common endemic diseases such as malaria, dengue, and yellow fever making it hard to diagnose clinically. Availability of a rapid diagnostic test and other serological and molecular assays facilitates accurate diagnosis of LF. Lassa virus therapeutics are currently in different stages of preclinical development. Arevirumab, a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies, demonstrates a great safety and efficacy profile in non-human primates. Major efforts have been made in the development of a Lassa virus vaccine. Two vaccine candidates, MeV-NP and pLASV-GPC are undergoing evaluation in phase I clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilia I Melnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.
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12
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Murphy H, Ly H. Understanding Immune Responses to Lassa Virus Infection and to Its Candidate Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1668. [PMID: 36298533 PMCID: PMC9612042 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a deadly viral hemorrhagic fever disease that is endemic in several countries in West Africa. It is caused by Lassa virus (LASV), which has been estimated to be responsible for approximately 300,000 infections and 5000 deaths annually. LASV is a highly pathogenic human pathogen without effective therapeutics or FDA-approved vaccines. Here, we aim to provide a literature review of the current understanding of the basic mechanism of immune responses to LASV infection in animal models and patients, as well as to several of its candidate vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hinh Ly
- Comparative & Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
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13
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A recombinant VSV-vectored vaccine rapidly protects nonhuman primates against heterologous lethal Lassa fever. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111094. [PMID: 35858566 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the top five pathogens likely to cause a severe outbreak. A recent unprecedented resurgence of LASV in Nigeria caused by genetically diverse strains underscores the need for licensed medical countermeasures. Single-injection vaccines that can rapidly control outbreaks and confer long-term immunity are needed. Vaccination of cynomolgus monkeys with a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector expressing the glycoprotein precursor of LASV lineage IV strain Josiah (rVSVΔG-LASV-GPC) induces fast-acting protection in monkeys challenged 3 or 7 days later with a genetically heterologous lineage II isolate of LASV from Nigeria, while nonspecifically vaccinated control animals succumb to challenge. The rVSVΔG-LASV-GPC vaccine induces rapid activation of adaptive immunity and the transcription of natural killer (NK) cell-affiliated mRNAs. This study demonstrates that rVSVΔG-LASV-GPC may provide rapid protection in humans against LASV infections in cases where immediate public-health intervention is required.
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14
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Murphy HL, Ly H. Pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms of Lassa virus and its animal modeling, diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic developments. Virulence 2021; 12:2989-3014. [PMID: 34747339 PMCID: PMC8923068 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.2000290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a deadly viral hemorrhagic disease that is endemic to West Africa. The causative agent of LF is Lassa virus (LASV), which causes approximately 300,000 infections and 5,000 deaths annually. There are currently no approved therapeutics or FDA-approved vaccines against LASV. The high genetic variability between LASV strains and immune evasion mediated by the virus complicate the development of effective therapeutics and vaccines. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the basic biology of LASV and its mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and virulence in various animal models, as well as an update on prospective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for LF. Until effective vaccines and/or therapeutics are available for use to prevent or treat LF, a better level of understanding of the basic biology of LASV, its natural genetic variations and immune evasion mechanisms as potential pathogenicity factors, and of the rodent reservoir-vector populations and their geographical distributions, is necessary for the development of accurate diagnostics and effective therapeutics and vaccines against this deadly human viral pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Murphy
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Comparative & Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Comparative & Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
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15
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Mateo M, Reynard S, Journeaux A, Germain C, Hortion J, Carnec X, Picard C, Baillet N, Borges-Cardoso V, Merabet O, Vallve A, Barron S, Jourjon O, Lacroix O, Duthey A, Dirheimer M, Jouvion G, Moreau PH, Fellmann L, Carbonnelle C, Raoul H, Tangy F, Baize S. A single-shot Lassa vaccine induces long-term immunity and protects cynomolgus monkeys against heterologous strains. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/597/eabf6348. [PMID: 34108251 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf6348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A safe and protective Lassa virus vaccine is crucially needed in Western Africa to stem the recurrent outbreaks of Lassa virus infections in Nigeria and the emergence of Lassa virus in previously unaffected countries, such as Benin and Togo. Major challenges in developing a Lassa virus vaccine include the high diversity of circulating strains and their reemergence from 1 year to another. To address each of these challenges, we immunized cynomolgus monkeys with a measles virus vector expressing the Lassa virus glycoprotein and nucleoprotein of the prototypic Lassa virus strain Josiah (MeV-NP). To evaluate vaccine efficacy against heterologous strains of Lassa virus, we challenged the monkeys a month later with heterologous strains from lineage II or lineage VII, finding that the vaccine was protective against these strains. A second cohort of monkeys was challenged 1 year later with the homologous Josiah strain, finding that a single dose of MeV-NP was sufficient to protect all vaccinated monkeys. These studies demonstrate that MeV-NP can generate both long-lasting immune responses and responses that are able to protect against diverse strains of Lassa virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Mateo
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Stéphanie Reynard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Alexandra Journeaux
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Clara Germain
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Jimmy Hortion
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Xavier Carnec
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Caroline Picard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Nicolas Baillet
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Virginie Borges-Cardoso
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Othmann Merabet
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Audrey Vallve
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM-Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Barron
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM-Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Ophélie Jourjon
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM-Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Orianne Lacroix
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM-Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Aurélie Duthey
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM-Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Manon Dirheimer
- INSERM, Délégation Régionale Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, 69500 Bron, France
| | - Gregory Jouvion
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Unité d'Histologie et d'Anatomie Pathologique, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.,Dynamic Research Group, Université Paris Est Créteil, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Lyne Fellmann
- SILABE, Université de Strasbourg, Fort Foch, 67207 Niederhausbergen, France
| | | | - Hervé Raoul
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM-Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Frédéric Tangy
- Viral Genomics and Vaccination, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Baize
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007 Lyon, France. .,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007 Lyon, France
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16
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Zhu X, Liu Y, Guo J, Cao J, Wang Z, Xiao G, Wang W. Effects of N-Linked Glycan on Lassa Virus Envelope Glycoprotein Cleavage, Infectivity, and Immune Response. Virol Sin 2021; 36:774-783. [PMID: 33689141 PMCID: PMC7945000 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-021-00358-y] [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: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) belongs to the Mammarenavirus genus (family Arenaviridae) and causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. The glycoprotein complex (GPC) contains eleven N-linked glycans that play essential roles in GPC functionalities such as cleavage, transport, receptor recognition, epitope shielding, and immune response. We used three mutagenesis strategies (asparagine to glutamine, asparagine to alanine, and serine/tyrosine to alanine mutants) to abolish individual glycan chain on GPC and found that all the three strategies led to cleavage inefficiency on the 2nd (N89), 5th (N119), or 8th (N365) glycosylation motif. To evaluate N to Q mutagenesis for further research, it was found that deletion of the 2nd (N89Q) or 8th (N365Q) glycan completely inhibited the transduction efficiency of pseudotyped particles. We further investigated the role of individual glycan on GPC-mediated immune response by DNA immunization of mice. Deletion of the individual 1st (N79Q), 3rd (N99Q), 5th (N119Q), or 6th (N167Q) glycan significantly enhanced the proportion of effector CD4+ cells, whereas deletion of the 1st (N79Q), 2nd (N89Q), 3rd (N99Q), 4th (N109Q), 5th (N119Q), 6th (N167Q), or 9th (N373Q) glycan enhanced the proportion of CD8+ effector T cells. Deletion of specific glycan improves the Th1-type immune response, and abolishment of glycan on GPC generally increases the antibody titer to the glycan-deficient GPC. However, the antibodies from either the mutant or WT GPC-immunized mice show little neutralization effect on wild-type LASV. The glycan residues on GPC provide an immune shield for the virus, and thus represent a target for the design and development of a vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Junyuan Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zonglin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Gengfu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China. .,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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17
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Basinski AJ, Fichet-Calvet E, Sjodin AR, Varrelman TJ, Remien CH, Layman NC, Bird BH, Wolking DJ, Monagin C, Ghersi BM, Barry PA, Jarvis MA, Gessler PE, Nuismer SL. Bridging the gap: Using reservoir ecology and human serosurveys to estimate Lassa virus spillover in West Africa. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008811. [PMID: 33657095 PMCID: PMC7959400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Forecasting the risk of pathogen spillover from reservoir populations of wild or domestic animals is essential for the effective deployment of interventions such as wildlife vaccination or culling. Due to the sporadic nature of spillover events and limited availability of data, developing and validating robust, spatially explicit, predictions is challenging. Recent efforts have begun to make progress in this direction by capitalizing on machine learning methodologies. An important weakness of existing approaches, however, is that they generally rely on combining human and reservoir infection data during the training process and thus conflate risk attributable to the prevalence of the pathogen in the reservoir population with the risk attributed to the realized rate of spillover into the human population. Because effective planning of interventions requires that these components of risk be disentangled, we developed a multi-layer machine learning framework that separates these processes. Our approach begins by training models to predict the geographic range of the primary reservoir and the subset of this range in which the pathogen occurs. The spillover risk predicted by the product of these reservoir specific models is then fit to data on realized patterns of historical spillover into the human population. The result is a geographically specific spillover risk forecast that can be easily decomposed and used to guide effective intervention. Applying our method to Lassa virus, a zoonotic pathogen that regularly spills over into the human population across West Africa, results in a model that explains a modest but statistically significant portion of geographic variation in historical patterns of spillover. When combined with a mechanistic mathematical model of infection dynamics, our spillover risk model predicts that 897,700 humans are infected by Lassa virus each year across West Africa, with Nigeria accounting for more than half of these human infections. The 2019 emergence of SARS-CoV-2 is a grim reminder of the threat animal-borne pathogens pose to human health. Even prior to SARS-CoV-2, the spillover of pathogens from animal reservoirs was a persistent problem, with pathogens such as Ebola, Nipah, and Lassa regularly but unpredictably causing outbreaks. Machine-learning models that anticipate when and where pathogen transmission from animals to humans is likely to occur would help guide surveillance efforts and preemptive countermeasures like information campaigns or vaccination programs. We develop a novel machine learning framework that uses datasets describing the distribution of a virus within its host and the range of its animal host, along with data on spatial patterns of human immunity, to infer rates of animal-to-human transmission across a region. By training the model on data from the animal host alone, our framework allows rigorous validation of spillover predictions using human data. We apply our framework to Lassa fever, a viral disease of West Africa that is spread to humans by rodents, and use the predictions to update estimates of Lassa virus infections in humans. Our results suggest that Nigeria is most at risk for the emergence of Lassa virus, and should be prioritized for outbreak-surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Basinski
- Department of Mathematics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Anna R. Sjodin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Tanner J. Varrelman
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Christopher H. Remien
- Department of Mathematics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Nathan C. Layman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Brian H. Bird
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - David J. Wolking
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Corina Monagin
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Bruno M. Ghersi
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Peter A. Barry
- Center for Comparative Medicine, California National Primate Research Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Jarvis
- School of Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Paul E. Gessler
- College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Scott L. Nuismer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
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18
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Hulswit RJG, Paesen GC, Bowden TA, Shi X. Recent Advances in Bunyavirus Glycoprotein Research: Precursor Processing, Receptor Binding and Structure. Viruses 2021; 13:353. [PMID: 33672327 PMCID: PMC7926653 DOI: 10.3390/v13020353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bunyavirales order accommodates related viruses (bunyaviruses) with segmented, linear, single-stranded, negative- or ambi-sense RNA genomes. Their glycoproteins form capsomeric projections or spikes on the virion surface and play a crucial role in virus entry, assembly, morphogenesis. Bunyavirus glycoproteins are encoded by a single RNA segment as a polyprotein precursor that is co- and post-translationally cleaved by host cell enzymes to yield two mature glycoproteins, Gn and Gc (or GP1 and GP2 in arenaviruses). These glycoproteins undergo extensive N-linked glycosylation and despite their cleavage, remain associated to the virion to form an integral transmembrane glycoprotein complex. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of bunyavirus glycoproteins, including their processing, structure, and known interactions with host factors that facilitate cell entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben J. G. Hulswit
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (R.J.G.H.); (G.C.P.)
| | - Guido C. Paesen
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (R.J.G.H.); (G.C.P.)
| | - Thomas A. Bowden
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (R.J.G.H.); (G.C.P.)
| | - Xiaohong Shi
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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19
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Systemic viral spreading and defective host responses are associated with fatal Lassa fever in macaques. Commun Biol 2021; 4:27. [PMID: 33398113 PMCID: PMC7782745 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01543-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is endemic in West Africa and induces a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) with up to 30% lethality among clinical cases. The mechanisms involved in control of Lassa fever or, in contrast, the ensuing catastrophic illness and death are poorly understood. We used the cynomolgus monkey model to reproduce the human disease with asymptomatic to mild or fatal disease. After initial replication at the inoculation site, LASV reached the secondary lymphoid organs. LASV did not spread further in nonfatal disease and was rapidly controlled by balanced innate and T-cell responses. Systemic viral dissemination occurred during severe disease. Massive replication, a cytokine/chemokine storm, defective T-cell responses, and multiorgan failure were observed. Clinical, biological, immunological, and transcriptomic parameters resembled those observed during septic-shock syndrome, suggesting that similar pathogenesis is induced during Lassa fever. The outcome appears to be determined early, as differentially expressed genes in PBMCs were associated with fatal and non-fatal Lassa fever outcome very early after infection. These results provide a full characterization and important insights into Lassa fever pathogenesis and could help to develop early diagnostic tools.
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20
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Designing a multi-epitope vaccine against the Lassa virus through reverse vaccinology, subtractive proteomics, and immunoinformatics approaches. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2021.100683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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21
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Abstract
The vaccine field is pursuing diverse approaches to translate the molecular insights from analyses of effective antibodies and their targeted epitopes into immunogens capable of eliciting protective immune responses. Here we review current antibody-guided strategies including conformation-based, epitope-based, and lineage-based vaccine approaches, which are yielding promising vaccine candidates now being evaluated in clinical trials. We summarize directions being employed by the field, including the use of sequencing technologies to monitor and track developing immune responses for understanding and improving antibody-based immunity. We review opportunities and challenges to transform powerful new discoveries into safe and effective vaccines, which are encapsulated by vaccine efforts against a variety of pathogens including HIV-1, influenza A virus, malaria parasites, respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Overall, this review summarizes the extensive progress that has been made to realize antibody-guided structure-based vaccines, the considerable challenges faced, and the opportunities afforded by recently developed molecular approaches to vaccine development.
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22
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Trovato M, Sartorius R, D’Apice L, Manco R, De Berardinis P. Viral Emerging Diseases: Challenges in Developing Vaccination Strategies. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2130. [PMID: 33013898 PMCID: PMC7494754 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, a number of infectious viruses have emerged from wildlife or re-emerged, generating serious threats to the global health and to the economy worldwide. Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers, Lassa fever, Dengue fever, Yellow fever, West Nile fever, Zika, and Chikungunya vector-borne diseases, Swine flu, Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and the recent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are examples of zoonoses that have spread throughout the globe with such a significant impact on public health that the scientific community has been called for a rapid intervention in preventing and treating emerging infections. Vaccination is probably the most effective tool in helping the immune system to activate protective responses against pathogens, reducing morbidity and mortality, as proven by historical records. Under health emergency conditions, new and alternative approaches in vaccine design and development are imperative for a rapid and massive vaccination coverage, to manage a disease outbreak and curtail the epidemic spread. This review gives an update on the current vaccination strategies for some of the emerging/re-emerging viruses, and discusses challenges and hurdles to overcome for developing efficacious vaccines against future pathogens.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibody-Dependent Enhancement/immunology
- Betacoronavirus/immunology
- COVID-19
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Communicable Diseases, Emerging/prevention & control
- Communicable Diseases, Emerging/virology
- Coronavirus Infections/immunology
- Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control
- Coronavirus Infections/therapy
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- Cross Reactions/immunology
- Humans
- Immunization, Passive
- Pandemics/prevention & control
- Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control
- Pneumonia, Viral/therapy
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- SARS-CoV-2
- Vaccination
- Vaccines, Attenuated/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, Inactivated/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
- COVID-19 Serotherapy
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Trovato
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
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23
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Müller H, Fehling SK, Dorna J, Urbanowicz RA, Oestereich L, Krebs Y, Kolesnikova L, Schauflinger M, Krähling V, Magassouba N, Fichet-Calvet E, Ball JK, Kaufmann A, Bauer S, Becker S, von Messling V, Strecker T. Adjuvant formulated virus-like particles expressing native-like forms of the Lassa virus envelope surface glycoprotein are immunogenic and induce antibodies with broadly neutralizing activity. NPJ Vaccines 2020; 5:71. [PMID: 32802410 PMCID: PMC7403343 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-00219-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa mammarenavirus (LASV) is a rodent-borne arenavirus endemic to several West African countries. It is the causative agent of human Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic fever disease. To date, no therapeutics or vaccines against LASV have obtained regulatory approval. Polyclonal neutralizing antibodies derived from hyperimmunized animals may offer a useful strategy for prophylactic and therapeutic intervention to combat human LASV infections. The LASV envelope surface glycoprotein complex (GP) is the major target for neutralizing antibodies, and it is the main viral antigen used for the design of an LASV vaccine. Here, we assessed the immunogenic potential of mammalian cell-derived virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing GP from the prototypic LASV strain Josiah in a native-like conformation as the sole viral antigen. We demonstrate that an adjuvanted prime-boost immunization regimen with GP-derived VLPs elicited neutralizing antibody responses in rabbits, suggesting that effective antigenic epitopes of GP were displayed. Notably, these antibodies exhibited broad reactivity across five genetic lineages of LASV. VLP-based immunization strategies may represent a powerful approach for generating polyclonal sera containing cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against LASV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Müller
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Jens Dorna
- Institute of Immunology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Richard A Urbanowicz
- Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Infections, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Lisa Oestereich
- Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Gießen-Marburg-Langen and Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Krebs
- Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | | | | | - Verena Krähling
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Gießen-Marburg-Langen and Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet
- Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Gießen-Marburg-Langen and Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan K Ball
- Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Infections, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Andreas Kaufmann
- Institute of Immunology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Bauer
- Institute of Immunology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Becker
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Gießen-Marburg-Langen and Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Veronika von Messling
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Gießen-Marburg-Langen and Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany.,Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.,Present Address: Federal Ministry for Education and Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Strecker
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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24
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Downs IL, Shaia CI, Zeng X, Johnson JC, Hensley L, Saunders DL, Rossi F, Cashman KA, Esham HL, Gregory MK, Pratt WD, Trefry JC, Everson KA, Larcom CB, Okwesili AC, Cardile AP, Honko A. Natural History of Aerosol Induced Lassa Fever in Non‑Human Primates. Viruses 2020; 12:E593. [PMID: 32485952 PMCID: PMC7354473 DOI: 10.3390/v12060593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), an arenavirus causing Lassa fever, is endemic to West Africa with up to 300,000 cases and between 5000 and 10,000 deaths per year. Rarely seen in the United States, Lassa virus is a CDC category A biological agent inasmuch deliberate aerosol exposure can have high mortality rates compared to naturally acquired infection. With the need for an animal model, specific countermeasures remain elusive as there is no FDA-approved vaccine. This natural history of aerosolized Lassa virus exposure in Macaca fascicularis was studied under continuous telemetric surveillance. The macaque response to challenge was largely analogous to severe human disease with fever, tachycardia, hypotension, and tachypnea. During initial observations, an increase trend of activated monocytes positive for viral glycoprotein was accompanied by lymphocytopenia. Disease uniformly progressed to high viremia followed by low anion gap, alkalosis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Hypoproteinemia occurred late in infection followed by increased levels of white blood cells, cytokines, chemokines, and biochemical markers of liver injury. Viral nucleic acids were detected in tissues of three non‑survivors at endpoint, but not in the lone survivor. This study provides useful details to benchmark a pivotal model of Lassa fever in support of medical countermeasure development for both endemic disease and traditional biodefense purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac L. Downs
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Carl I. Shaia
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Xiankun Zeng
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Joshua C. Johnson
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
- Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Lisa Hensley
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
- Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - David L. Saunders
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Franco Rossi
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Kathleen A. Cashman
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Heather L. Esham
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Melissa K. Gregory
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - William D. Pratt
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - John C. Trefry
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, USA
| | - Kyle A. Everson
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Charles B. Larcom
- Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98431, USA;
| | - Arthur C. Okwesili
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Anthony P. Cardile
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
| | - Anna Honko
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (I.L.D.); (C.I.S.); (X.Z.); (J.C.J.); (L.H.); (D.L.S.); (F.R.); (K.A.C.); (H.L.E.); (M.K.G.); (W.D.P.); (J.C.T.); (K.A.E.); (A.C.O.); (A.H.)
- Investigator at National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Prevalence and outcome of Lassa fever among hospitalized patients in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, 2018-2019. Virus Res 2020; 285:198000. [PMID: 32380207 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa. Annually, about 300,000-500,000 people are being infected, with about 5000 deaths. Symptoms of LF include high grade fever, headache, malaise, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or sore throat. Terminal features may include bleeding from all orifices (mouth, nose, ear, anus and vagina), facial and neck oedema or pleural effusion. People of all ages, gender, and occupations were included in this study. A total of 440 patients' samples and Bio data were used for this study. The samples were analyzed for Lassa fever virus RNA using Real Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and version 7 of Epi-Info statistical software. Analysis of these samples showed LASV prevalence of 25.7%. Chi-square analysis (p ≤ 0.05) showed that LASV infection does not depend on age, gender, or occupation. Our research re-emphasized the fact that LASV is a serious cause of fatality in humans. Our data showed that among 327 negative patients, 19 died. On the contrary, 113 LASV confirmed positive cases had 42 deaths. This result is highly significant. More so, Lassa fever disease outcome was compared across gender. There was no significant difference between the two genders. Death or recovery from LF infection does not depend on sex. However, recovery from LF significantly depends on age of the patient. Fatal outcome is significantly higher among adults/elderly. We aim to raise awareness to the recurrence of LASV in Ebonyi State and urgent need for other medical interventions, including other therapeutic measures, and possible vaccine production, considering the impact of this virus.
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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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27
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Cai Y, Iwasaki M, Motooka D, Liu DX, Yu S, Cooper K, Hart R, Adams R, Burdette T, Postnikova EN, Kurtz J, St Claire M, Ye C, Kuhn JH, Martínez-Sobrido L, de la Torre JC. A Lassa Virus Live-Attenuated Vaccine Candidate Based on Rearrangement of the Intergenic Region. mBio 2020; 11:e00186-20. [PMID: 32209677 PMCID: PMC7157513 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00186-20] [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: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) poses a significant public health problem within the regions of Lassa fever endemicity in Western Africa. LASV infects several hundred thousand individuals yearly, and a considerable number of Lassa fever cases are associated with high morbidity and lethality. No approved LASV vaccine is available, and current therapy is limited to an off-label usage of ribavirin that is only partially effective and associated with significant side effects. The impact of Lassa fever on human health, together with the limited existing countermeasures, highlights the importance of developing effective vaccines against LASV. Here, we present the development and characterization of a recombinant LASV (rLASV) vaccine candidate [rLASV(IGR/S-S)], which is based on the presence of the noncoding intergenic region (IGR) of the small (S) genome segment (S-IGR) in both large (L) and S LASV segments. In cultured cells, rLASV(IGR/S-S) was modestly less fit than wild-type rLASV (rLASV-WT). rLASV(IGR/S-S) was highly attenuated in guinea pigs, and a single subcutaneous low dose of the virus completely protected against otherwise lethal infection with LASV-WT. Moreover, rLASV(IGR/S-S) was genetically stable during serial passages in cultured cells. These findings indicate that rLASV(IGR/S-S) can be developed into a LASV live-attenuated vaccine (LAV) that has the same antigenic composition as LASV-WT and a well-defined mechanism of attenuation that overcomes concerns about increased virulence that could be caused by genetic changes in the LAV during multiple rounds of multiplication.IMPORTANCE Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of Lassa fever, infects several hundred thousand people in Western Africa, resulting in many lethal Lassa fever cases. No U.S. Food and Drug Administration-licensed countermeasures are available to prevent or treat LASV infection. We describe the generation of a novel LASV live-attenuated vaccine candidate rLASV(IGR/S-S), which is based on the replacement of the large genomic segment noncoding intergenic region (IGR) with that of the small genome segment. rLASV(IGR/S-S) is less fit in cell culture than wild-type virus and does not cause clinical signs in inoculated guinea pigs. Importantly, rLASV(IGR/S-S) protects immunized guinea pigs against an otherwise lethal exposure to LASV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyun Cai
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Masaharu Iwasaki
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Diseases, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Laboratory of Pathogen Detection and Identification, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - David X Liu
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Shuiqing Yu
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Kurt Cooper
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Randy Hart
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ricky Adams
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Tracey Burdette
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Elena N Postnikova
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan Kurtz
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Marisa St Claire
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Chengjin Ye
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Luis Martínez-Sobrido
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
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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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Cai Y, Ye C, Cheng B, Nogales A, Iwasaki M, Yu S, Cooper K, Liu DX, Hart R, Adams R, Brady T, Postnikova EN, Kurtz J, St Claire M, Kuhn JH, de la Torre JC, Martínez-Sobrido L. A Lassa Fever Live-Attenuated Vaccine Based on Codon Deoptimization of the Viral Glycoprotein Gene. mBio 2020; 11:e00039-20. [PMID: 32098811 PMCID: PMC7042690 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00039-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is endemic in Western Africa and is estimated to infect hundreds of thousands of individuals annually. A considerable number of these infections result in Lassa fever (LF), which is associated with significant morbidity and a case-fatality rate as high as 69% among hospitalized confirmed patients. U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved LF vaccines are not available. Current antiviral treatment is limited to off-label use of a nucleoside analogue, ribavirin, that is only partially effective and associated with significant side effects. We generated and characterized a recombinant LASV expressing a codon-deoptimized (CD) glycoprotein precursor gene (GPC), rLASV-GPC/CD. Comparison of growth kinetics and peak titers showed that rLASV-GPC/CD is slightly attenuated in cell culture compared to wild-type (WT) recombinant LASV (rLASV-WT). However, rLASV-GPC/CD is highly attenuated in strain 13 and Hartley guinea pigs, as reflected by the absence of detectable clinical signs in animals inoculated with rLASV-GPC/CD. Importantly, a single subcutaneous dose of rLASV-GPC/CD provides complete protection against an otherwise lethal exposure to LASV. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a CD approach for developing a safe and effective LASV live-attenuated vaccine candidate. Moreover, rLASV-GPC/CD might provide investigators with a tool to safely study LASV outside maximum (biosafety level 4) containment, which could accelerate the elucidation of basic aspects of the molecular and cell biology of LASV and the development of novel LASV medical countermeasures.IMPORTANCE Lassa virus (LASV) infects several hundred thousand people in Western Africa, resulting in many lethal Lassa fever (LF) cases. Licensed LF vaccines are not available, and anti-LF therapy is limited to off-label use of the nucleoside analog ribavirin with uncertain efficacy. We describe the generation of a novel live-attenuated LASV vaccine candidate. This vaccine candidate is based on mutating wild-type (WT) LASV in a key region of the viral genome, the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) gene. These mutations do not change the encoded GPC but interfere with its production in host cells. This mutated LASV (rLASV-GPC/CD) behaves like WT LASV (rLASV-WT) in cell culture, but in contrast to rLASV-WT, does not cause disease in inoculated guinea pigs. Guinea pigs immunized with rLASV-GPC/CD were protected against an otherwise lethal exposure to WT LASV. Our results support the testing of this candidate vaccine in nonhuman primate models ofLF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyun Cai
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Chengjin Ye
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Benson Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Aitor Nogales
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Masaharu Iwasaki
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Shuiqing Yu
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Kurt Cooper
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - David X Liu
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Randy Hart
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ricky Adams
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Tyler Brady
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Elena N Postnikova
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan Kurtz
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Marisa St Claire
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Luis Martínez-Sobrido
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
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Ng WM, Stelfox AJ, Bowden TA. Unraveling virus relationships by structure-based phylogenetic classification. Virus Evol 2020; 6:veaa003. [PMID: 32064119 PMCID: PMC7015158 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Delineation of the intricacies of protein function from macromolecular structure constitutes a continual obstacle in the study of cell and pathogen biology. Structure-based phylogenetic analysis has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing this challenge, allowing the detection and quantification of conserved architectural properties between proteins, including those with low or no detectable sequence homology. With a focus on viral protein structure, we highlight how a number of investigations have utilized this powerful method to infer common functionality and ancestry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weng M Ng
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Alice J Stelfox
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Thomas A Bowden
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
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31
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Differential Immune Responses to Hemorrhagic Fever-Causing Arenaviruses. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7040138. [PMID: 31581720 PMCID: PMC6963578 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7040138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Arenaviridae contains several pathogens of major clinical importance. The Old World (OW) arenavirus Lassa virus is endemic in West Africa and is estimated to cause up to 300,000 infections each year. The New World (NW) arenaviruses Junín and Machupo periodically cause hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in South America. While these arenaviruses are highly pathogenic in humans, recent evidence indicates that pathogenic OW and NW arenaviruses interact with the host immune system differently, which may have differential impacts on viral pathogenesis. Severe Lassa fever cases are characterized by profound immunosuppression. In contrast, pathogenic NW arenavirus infections are accompanied by elevated levels of Type I interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review aims to summarize recent findings about interactions of these pathogenic arenaviruses with the innate immune machinery and the subsequent effects on adaptive immunity, which may inform the development of vaccines and therapeutics against arenavirus infections.
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32
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Mateo M, Reynard S, Carnec X, Journeaux A, Baillet N, Schaeffer J, Picard C, Legras-Lachuer C, Allan R, Perthame E, Hillion KH, Pietrosemoli N, Dillies MA, Barrot L, Vallve A, Barron S, Fellmann L, Gaillard JC, Armengaud J, Carbonnelle C, Raoul H, Tangy F, Baize S. Vaccines inducing immunity to Lassa virus glycoprotein and nucleoprotein protect macaques after a single shot. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:11/512/eaaw3163. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw3163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Lassa fever is a major threat in Western Africa. The large number of people living at risk for this disease calls for the development of a vaccine against Lassa virus (LASV). We generated live-attenuated LASV vaccines based on measles virus and Mopeia virus platforms and expressing different LASV antigens, with the aim to develop a vaccine able to protect after a single shot. We compared the efficacy of these vaccines against LASV in cynomolgus monkeys. The vaccines were well tolerated and protected the animals from LASV infection and disease after a single immunization but with varying efficacy. Analysis of the immune responses showed that complete protection was associated with robust secondary T cell and antibody responses against LASV. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses showed an early activation of innate immunity and T cell priming after immunization with the most effective vaccines, with changes detectable as early as 2 days after immunization. The most efficacious vaccine candidate, a measles vector simultaneously expressing LASV glycoprotein and nucleoprotein, has been selected for further clinical evaluation.
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33
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Kainulainen MH, Spengler JR, Welch SR, Coleman-McCray JD, Harmon JR, Klena JD, Nichol ST, Albariño CG, Spiropoulou CF. Use of a Scalable Replicon-Particle Vaccine to Protect Against Lethal Lassa Virus Infection in the Guinea Pig Model. J Infect Dis 2019; 217:1957-1966. [PMID: 29800368 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever is a viral zoonosis that can be transmitted from person to person, especially in the hospital setting. The disease is endemic to several countries in West Africa and can be a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in affected areas. There are no approved vaccines to prevent Lassa virus infection. In this work, we present a vaccine candidate that combines the scalability and efficacy benefits of a live vaccine with the safety benefits of single-cycle replication. The system consists of Lassa virus replicon particles devoid of the virus essential glycoprotein gene, and a cell line that expresses the glycoprotein products, enabling efficient vaccine propagation. Guinea pigs vaccinated with these particles showed no clinical reaction to the inoculum and were protected against fever, weight loss, and lethality after infection with Lassa virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus H Kainulainen
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jessica R Spengler
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Stephen R Welch
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - JoAnn D Coleman-McCray
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jessica R Harmon
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - John D Klena
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Stuart T Nichol
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - César G Albariño
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Christina F Spiropoulou
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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A vaccine based on recombinant modified Vaccinia Ankara containing the nucleoprotein from Lassa virus protects against disease progression in a guinea pig model. Vaccine 2019; 37:5404-5413. [PMID: 31331770 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Lassa fever remains the most imported viral haemorrhagic fever in Europe and is responsible for 5000 deaths per year throughout Western Africa. There is no vaccine and treatment is often ineffective. We have developed a vaccine based on modified Vaccinia Ankara expressing the nucleoprotein from Lassa virus (MVALassaNP). This study investigated the immunogenicity (in mice) and efficacy (in guinea pigs) of the MVALassaNP vaccine as a prime/boost or single vaccination regime. ELISA and ELISpot assays confirmed humoral and T-cell immunity following both a prime and prime/boost vaccination, with the prime/boost regime producing a statistically increased response compared to a prime only vaccine (P < 0.0001). The vaccine offered protection in guinea pigs against disease manifestations after challenge with virulent Lassa virus. Clinical signs, weight loss and temperature increases were observed in all animals receiving a control MVA vaccine, after challenge with Lassa virus. In contrast, no clinical signs, fever or weight loss were observed in any of the MVALassaNP vaccinated animals demonstrating that both a single immunisation, and prime/boost regime confer protection against disease progression. In conclusion, the MVALassaNP vaccine candidate elicits an immune response, demonstrates efficacy against Lassa virus disease and is suitable for further preclinical and clinical development.
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35
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Jiang J, Banglore P, Cashman KA, Schmaljohn CS, Schultheis K, Pugh H, Nguyen J, Humeau LM, Broderick KE, Ramos SJ. Immunogenicity of a protective intradermal DNA vaccine against lassa virus in cynomolgus macaques. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:2066-2074. [PMID: 31071008 PMCID: PMC6773375 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1616499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a hemorrhagic fever virus of the Arenaviridae family with high rates of mortality and co-morbidities, including chronic seizures and permanent bilateral or unilateral deafness. LASV is endemic in West Africa and Lassa fever accounts for 10-16% of hospitalizations annually in parts of Sierra Leone and Liberia according to the CDC. An ongoing outbreak in Nigeria has resulted in 144 deaths in 568 cases confirmed as LASV as of November 2018, with many more suspected, highlighting the urgent need for a vaccine to prevent this severe disease. We previously reported on a DNA vaccine encoding a codon-optimized LASV glycoprotein precursor gene, pLASV-GPC, which completely protects Guinea pigs and nonhuman primates (NHPs) against viremia, clinical disease, and death following lethal LASV challenge. Herein we report on the immunogenicity profile of the LASV DNA vaccine in protected NHPs. Antigen-specific binding antibodies were generated in 100% (6/6) NHPs after two immunizations with pLASV-GPC. These antibodies bound predominantly to the assembled LASV glycoprotein complex and had robust neutralizing activity in a pseudovirus assay. pLASV-GPC DNA-immunized NHPs (5/6) also developed T cell responses as measured by IFNγ ELISpot assay. These results revealed that the pLASV-GPC DNA vaccine is capable of generating functional, LASV-specific T cell and antibody responses, and the assays developed in this study will provide a framework to identify correlates of protection and characterize immune responses in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Jiang
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Preeti Banglore
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Kathleen A. Cashman
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Connie S. Schmaljohn
- Office of the Chief Scientists, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | | | - Holly Pugh
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Jacklyn Nguyen
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Laurent M. Humeau
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Kate E. Broderick
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie J. Ramos
- Research & Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA,CONTACT Stephanie J. Ramos 10480 Wateridge Circle, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
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Vaccine platforms for the prevention of Lassa fever. Immunol Lett 2019; 215:1-11. [PMID: 31026485 PMCID: PMC7132387 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The epidemiological significance of Lassa fever in West Africa is discussed. Viral ecology, pathology, and immunobiology of Lassa virus infection is described. Multiple vaccine candidates have been tested in pre-clinical models. Lassa fever vaccine candidates have yet to progress to clinical trials. Five platform technologies have been selected for expedited development.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus (LASV), which is endemic throughout much of West Africa. The virus primarily circulates in the Mastomys natalensis reservoir and is transmitted to humans through contact with infectious rodents or their secretions; human-to-human transmission is documented as well. With the exception of Dengue fever, LASV has the highest human impact of any haemorrhagic fever virus. On-going outbreaks in Nigeria have resulted in unprecedented mortality. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed LASV as a high priority pathogen for the development of treatments and prophylactics. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines to protect against LASV infection. Although numerous candidates have demonstrated efficacy in animal models, to date, only a single candidate has advanced to clinical trials. Lassa fever vaccine development efforts have been hindered by the high cost of biocontainment requirements, the absence of established correlates of protection, and uncertainty regarding the extent to which animal models are predictive of vaccine efficacy in humans. This review briefly discusses the epidemiology and biology of LASV infection and highlights recent progress in vaccine development.
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Autophagy Promotes Infectious Particle Production of Mopeia and Lassa Viruses. Viruses 2019; 11:v11030293. [PMID: 30909570 PMCID: PMC6466445 DOI: 10.3390/v11030293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) and Mopeia virus (MOPV) are two closely related Old-World mammarenaviruses. LASV causes severe hemorrhagic fever with high mortality in humans, whereas no case of MOPV infection has been reported. Comparing MOPV and LASV is a powerful strategy to unravel pathogenic mechanisms that occur during the course of pathogenic arenavirus infection. We used a yeast two-hybrid approach to identify cell partners of MOPV and LASV Z matrix protein in which two autophagy adaptors were identified, NDP52 and TAX1BP1. Autophagy has emerged as an important cellular defense mechanism against viral infections but its role during arenavirus infection has not been shown. Here, we demonstrate that autophagy is transiently induced by MOPV, but not LASV, in infected cells two days after infection. Impairment of the early steps of autophagy significantly decreased the production of MOPV and LASV infectious particles, whereas a blockade of the degradative steps impaired only MOPV infectious particle production. Our study provides insights into the role played by autophagy during MOPV and LASV infection and suggests that this process could partially explain their different pathogenicity.
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Lukashevich IS, Paessler S, de la Torre JC. Lassa virus diversity and feasibility for universal prophylactic vaccine. F1000Res 2019; 8. [PMID: 30774934 PMCID: PMC6357994 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.16989.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a highly prevalent mammarenavirus in West Africa and is maintained in nature in a persistently infected rodent host, Mastomys natalensis, which is widely spread in sub-Saharan Africa. LASV infection of humans can cause Lassa fever (LF), a disease associated with high morbidity and significant mortality. Recent evidence indicates an LASV expansion outside its traditional endemic areas. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) included LASV in top-priority pathogens and released a Target Product Profile (TPP) for vaccine development. Likewise, in 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration added LF to a priority review voucher program to encourage the development of preventive and therapeutics measures. In this article, we review recent progress in LASV vaccine research and development with a focus on the impact of LASV genetic and biological diversity on the design and development of vaccine candidates meeting the WHO's TPP for an LASV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor S Lukashevich
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology IMM-6, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
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Perdomo-Celis F, Salvato MS, Medina-Moreno S, Zapata JC. T-Cell Response to Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:E11. [PMID: 30678246 PMCID: PMC6466054 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) are a group of clinically similar diseases that can be caused by enveloped RNA viruses primarily from the families Arenaviridae, Filoviridae, Hantaviridae, and Flaviviridae. Clinically, this group of diseases has in common fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, and other associated symptoms that can progress to vascular leakage, bleeding and multi-organ failure. Most of these viruses are zoonotic causing asymptomatic infections in the primary host, but in human beings, the infection can be lethal. Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that the T-cell response is needed for protection against VHF, but can also cause damage to the host, and play an important role in disease pathogenesis. Here, we present a review of the T-cell immune responses to VHF and insights into the possible ways to improve counter-measures for these viral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Perdomo-Celis
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, 050010, Colombia.
- Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Maria S Salvato
- Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Sandra Medina-Moreno
- Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Juan C Zapata
- Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Attenuated Replication of Lassa Virus Vaccine Candidate ML29 in STAT-1 -/- Mice. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8010009. [PMID: 30650607 PMCID: PMC6470856 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), a highly prevalent mammalian arenavirus endemic in West Africa, can cause Lassa fever (LF), which is responsible for thousands of deaths annually. LASV is transmitted to humans from naturally infected rodents. At present, there is not an effective vaccine nor treatment. The genetic diversity of LASV is the greatest challenge for vaccine development. The reassortant ML29 carrying the L segment from the nonpathogenic Mopeia virus (MOPV) and the S segment from LASV is a vaccine candidate under current development. ML29 demonstrated complete protection in validated animal models against a Nigerian strain from clade II, which was responsible for the worst outbreak on record in 2018. This study demonstrated that ML29 was more attenuated than MOPV in STAT1-/- mice, a small animal model of human LF and its sequelae. ML29 infection of these mice resulted in more than a thousand-fold reduction in viremia and viral load in tissues and strong LASV-specific adaptive T cell responses compared to MOPV-infected mice. Persistent infection of Vero cells with ML29 resulted in generation of interfering particles (IPs), which strongly interfered with the replication of LASV, MOPV and LCMV, the prototype of the Arenaviridae. ML29 IPs induced potent cell-mediated immunity and were fully attenuated in STAT1-/- mice. Formulation of ML29 with IPs will improve the breadth of the host’s immune responses and further contribute to development of a pan-LASV vaccine with full coverage meeting the WHO requirements.
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Monette A, Mouland AJ. T Lymphocytes as Measurable Targets of Protection and Vaccination Against Viral Disorders. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 342:175-263. [PMID: 30635091 PMCID: PMC7104940 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Continuous epidemiological surveillance of existing and emerging viruses and their associated disorders is gaining importance in light of their abilities to cause unpredictable outbreaks as a result of increased travel and vaccination choices by steadily growing and aging populations. Close surveillance of outbreaks and herd immunity are also at the forefront, even in industrialized countries, where previously eradicated viruses are now at risk of re-emergence due to instances of strain recombination, contractions in viral vector geographies, and from their potential use as agents of bioterrorism. There is a great need for the rational design of current and future vaccines targeting viruses, with a strong focus on vaccine targeting of adaptive immune effector memory T cells as the gold standard of immunity conferring long-lived protection against a wide variety of pathogens and malignancies. Here, we review viruses that have historically caused large outbreaks and severe lethal disorders, including respiratory, gastric, skin, hepatic, neurologic, and hemorrhagic fevers. To observe trends in vaccinology against these viral disorders, we describe viral genetic, replication, transmission, and tropism, host-immune evasion strategies, and the epidemiology and health risks of their associated syndromes. We focus on immunity generated against both natural infection and vaccination, where a steady shift in conferred vaccination immunogenicity is observed from quantifying activated and proliferating, long-lived effector memory T cell subsets, as the prominent biomarkers of long-term immunity against viruses and their associated disorders causing high morbidity and mortality rates.
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Structure-Based Classification Defines the Discrete Conformational Classes Adopted by the Arenaviral GP1. J Virol 2018; 93:JVI.01048-18. [PMID: 30305351 PMCID: PMC6288339 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01048-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetically and geographically diverse group of viruses within the family Arenaviridae includes a number of zoonotic pathogens capable of causing fatal hemorrhagic fever. The multisubunit GPC glycoprotein spike complex displayed on the arenavirus envelope is a key determinant of species tropism and a primary target of the host humoral immune response. Here, we show that the receptor-binding GP1 subcomponent of the GPC spike from Old World but not New World arenaviruses adopts a distinct, pH-independent conformation in the absence of the cognate GP2. Our analysis provides a structure-based approach to understanding the discrete conformational classes sampled by these therapeutically important targets, informing strategies to develop arenaviral glycoprotein immunogens that resemble GPC as presented on the mature virion surface. The emergence of Old and New World arenaviruses from rodent reservoirs persistently threatens human health. The GP1 subunit of the envelope-displayed arenaviral glycoprotein spike complex (GPC) mediates host cell recognition and is an important determinant of cross-species transmission. Previous structural analyses of Old World arenaviral GP1 glycoproteins, alone and in complex with a cognate GP2 subunit, have revealed that GP1 adopts two distinct conformational states distinguished by differences in the orientations of helical regions of the molecule. Here, through comparative study of the GP1 glycoprotein architectures of Old World Loei River virus and New World Whitewater Arroyo virus, we show that these rearrangements are restricted to Old World arenaviruses and are not induced solely by the pH change that is associated with virus endosomal trafficking. Our structure-based phylogenetic analysis of arenaviral GP1s provides a blueprint for understanding the discrete structural classes adopted by these therapeutically important targets. IMPORTANCE The genetically and geographically diverse group of viruses within the family Arenaviridae includes a number of zoonotic pathogens capable of causing fatal hemorrhagic fever. The multisubunit GPC glycoprotein spike complex displayed on the arenavirus envelope is a key determinant of species tropism and a primary target of the host humoral immune response. Here, we show that the receptor-binding GP1 subcomponent of the GPC spike from Old World but not New World arenaviruses adopts a distinct, pH-independent conformation in the absence of the cognate GP2. Our analysis provides a structure-based approach to understanding the discrete conformational classes sampled by these therapeutically important targets, informing strategies to develop arenaviral glycoprotein immunogens that resemble GPC as presented on the mature virion surface.
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Schaeffer J, Carnec X, Reynard S, Mateo M, Picard C, Pietrosemoli N, Dillies MA, Baize S. Lassa virus activates myeloid dendritic cells but suppresses their ability to stimulate T cells. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007430. [PMID: 30419076 PMCID: PMC6258464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is responsible for a viral hemorrhagic fever in humans and the death of 3,000 to 5,000 people every year. The immune response to LASV is poorly understood, but type I interferon (IFN-I) and T-cell responses appear to be critical for the host. We studied the response of myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) to LASV, as mDCs are involved in both IFN-I production and T-cell activation. We compared the response of primary human mDCs to LASV and Mopeia virus (MOPV), which is similar to LASV, but non-pathogenic. We showed that mDCs produced substantial amounts of IFN-I in response to both LASV and MOPV. However, only MOPV-infected mDCs were able to activate T cells. More surprisingly, coculture with T cells completely inhibited the activation of LASV-infected mDCs. These differences between LASV and MOPV were mostly due to the LASV nucleoprotein, which has major immunosuppressive properties, but the glycoprotein was also involved. Overall, these results suggest that mDCs may be important for the global response to LASV and play a role in the outcome of Lassa fever. Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever and a major public health issue in West Africa. Lassa virus, the causative agent of Lassa fever, is listed by the World Health Organization as one of the emerging pathogens likely to cause severe outbreaks in the near future. Indeed, there is currently no vaccine and no treatment against Lassa virus. Determinants of Lassa virus high pathogenicity are not completely understood. However, it has been shown that rapid type I interferon response and efficient T cell response were critical to survive Lassa fever. Dendritic cells are at the crossroads of innate and adaptive immunity. Their direct response to viral infection includes type I interferon production. They can also present viral antigens, initiating the T cell responses. We decided to investigate how dendritic cells respond to Lassa virus to evaluate their importance in the global immune response. We showed that primary human myeloid dendritic cells are activated by Lassa virus infection, and produce type I interferon. However, Lassa virus-infected dendritic cells were not able to activate T cells. We also elucidated the roles of viral proteins in the modulation of dendritic cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Schaeffer
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Xavier Carnec
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Stéphanie Reynard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Mathieu Mateo
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Caroline Picard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Natalia Pietrosemoli
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Centre de Bioinformatique Biostatistique et Biologie Intégrative (C3BI, USR 3756, IP CNRS), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Agnès Dillies
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Centre de Bioinformatique Biostatistique et Biologie Intégrative (C3BI, USR 3756, IP CNRS), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Baize
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
- * E-mail:
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Abreu-Mota T, Hagen KR, Cooper K, Jahrling PB, Tan G, Wirblich C, Johnson RF, Schnell MJ. Non-neutralizing antibodies elicited by recombinant Lassa-Rabies vaccine are critical for protection against Lassa fever. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4223. [PMID: 30310067 PMCID: PMC6181965 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06741-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF), caused by Lassa virus (LASV), is a viral hemorrhagic fever for which no approved vaccine or potent antiviral treatment is available. LF is a WHO priority disease and, together with rabies, a major health burden in West Africa. Here we present the development and characterization of an inactivated recombinant LASV and rabies vaccine candidate (LASSARAB) that expresses a codon-optimized LASV glycoprotein (coGPC) and is adjuvanted by a TLR-4 agonist (GLA-SE). LASSARAB elicits lasting humoral response against LASV and RABV in both mouse and guinea pig models, and it protects both guinea pigs and mice against LF. We also demonstrate a previously unexplored role for non-neutralizing LASV GPC-specific antibodies as a major mechanism of protection by LASSARAB against LF through antibody-dependent cellular functions. Overall, these findings demonstrate an effective inactivated LF vaccine and elucidate a novel humoral correlate of protection for LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Abreu-Mota
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Katie R Hagen
- Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick MD, 21702, USA
| | - Kurt Cooper
- Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick MD, 21702, USA
| | - Peter B Jahrling
- Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick MD, 21702, USA
- Emerging Viral Pathogens Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, 20892, USA
| | - Gene Tan
- Infectious Disease, The J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla CA, 92037, USA
| | - Christoph Wirblich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Reed F Johnson
- Emerging Viral Pathogens Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, 20892, USA
| | - Matthias J Schnell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
- Jefferson Vaccine Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
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Warner BM, Safronetz D, Stein DR. Current research for a vaccine against Lassa hemorrhagic fever virus. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2018; 12:2519-2527. [PMID: 30147299 PMCID: PMC6097522 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s147276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a rodent-borne arenavirus endemic to several West African countries that causes Lassa fever (LF). LF is typically mild but it can cause severe disease characterized by hemorrhagic fever and multi-organ failure. A current outbreak of LASV in Nigeria has seen greater than 300 cases with a case fatality rate of 22%. Currently, there are limited treatment options and no vaccine candidates are approved to prevent LASV infection. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has identified LASV as an emerging pathogen of high consequence and this has resulted in a push for several preclinical vaccine candidates to be advanced toward clinical trials. Here, we discuss several important aspects of LASV infection including immunobiology, immune evasion, and correlates of protection against LF, which have been identified through animal models and human infections. In addition, we discuss several vaccine candidates that have shown efficacy in animal models that could be advanced toward clinical trials. The increased fatality rate seen in the recent LASV outbreak in Nigeria highlights the importance of developing effective treatment and prevention strategies against LF. The spike in LASV cases seen in West Africa has the potential for increased mortality and human-to-human transmission, making the development and testing of effective vaccines for LASV critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce M Warner
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - David Safronetz
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada,
| | - Derek R Stein
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada,
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Watanabe Y, Raghwani J, Allen JD, Seabright GE, Li S, Moser F, Huiskonen JT, Strecker T, Bowden TA, Crispin M. Structure of the Lassa virus glycan shield provides a model for immunological resistance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:7320-7325. [PMID: 29941589 PMCID: PMC6048489 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1803990115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus is an Old World arenavirus endemic to West Africa that causes severe hemorrhagic fever. Vaccine development has focused on the envelope glycoprotein complex (GPC) that extends from the virion envelope. The often inadequate antibody immune response elicited by both vaccine and natural infection has been, in part, attributed to the abundance of N-linked glycosylation on the GPC. Here, using a virus-like-particle system that presents Lassa virus GPC in a native-like context, we determine the composite population of each of the N-linked glycosylation sites presented on the trimeric GPC spike. Our analysis reveals the presence of underprocessed oligomannose-type glycans, which form punctuated clusters that obscure the proteinous surface of both the GP1 attachment and GP2 fusion glycoprotein subunits of the Lassa virus GPC. These oligomannose clusters are seemingly derived as a result of sterically reduced accessibility to glycan processing enzymes, and limited amino acid diversification around these sites supports their role protecting against the humoral immune response. Combined, our data provide a structure-based blueprint for understanding how glycans render the glycoprotein spikes of Lassa virus and other Old World arenaviruses immunologically resistant targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Watanabe
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jayna Raghwani
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7LF Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joel D Allen
- Centre for Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma E Seabright
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sai Li
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Felipe Moser
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Juha T Huiskonen
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science and Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Thomas Strecker
- Institute of Virology, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas A Bowden
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom;
| | - Max Crispin
- Centre for Biological Sciences and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom;
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Carnec X, Mateo M, Page A, Reynard S, Hortion J, Picard C, Yekwa E, Barrot L, Barron S, Vallve A, Raoul H, Carbonnelle C, Ferron F, Baize S. A Vaccine Platform against Arenaviruses Based on a Recombinant Hyperattenuated Mopeia Virus Expressing Heterologous Glycoproteins. J Virol 2018; 92:e02230-17. [PMID: 29593043 PMCID: PMC5974477 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02230-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Several Old World and New World arenaviruses are responsible for severe endemic and epidemic hemorrhagic fevers, whereas other members of the Arenaviridae family are nonpathogenic. To date, no approved vaccines, antivirals, or specific treatments are available, except for Junín virus. However, protection of nonhuman primates against Lassa fever virus (LASV) is possible through the inoculation of the closely related but nonpathogenic Mopeia virus (MOPV) before challenge with LASV. We reasoned that this virus, modified by using reverse genetics, would represent the basis for the generation of a vaccine platform against LASV and other pathogenic arenaviruses. After showing evidence of exoribonuclease (ExoN) activity in NP of MOPV, we found that this activity was essential for multiplication in antigen-presenting cells. The introduction of multiple mutations in the ExoN site of MOPV NP generated a hyperattenuated strain (MOPVExoN6b) that is (i) genetically stable over passages, (ii) has increased immunogenic properties compared to those of MOPV, and (iii) still promotes a strong type I interferon (IFN) response. MOPVExoN6b was further modified to harbor the envelope glycoproteins of heterologous pathogenic arenaviruses, such as LASV or Lujo, Machupo, Guanarito, Chapare, or Sabia virus in order to broaden specific antigenicity while preserving the hyperattenuated characteristics of the parental strain. Our MOPV-based vaccine candidate for LASV, MOPEVACLASV, was used in a one-shot immunization assay in nonhuman primates and fully protected them from a lethal challenge with LASV. Thus, our hyperattenuated strain of MOPV constitutes a promising new live-attenuated vaccine platform to immunize against several, if not all, pathogenic arenaviruses.IMPORTANCE Arenaviruses are emerging pathogens transmitted to humans by rodents and responsible for endemic and epidemic hemorrhagic fevers of global concern. Nonspecific symptoms associated with the onset of infection make these viruses difficult to distinguish from other endemic pathogens. Moreover, the unavailability of rapid diagnosis in the field delays the identification of the virus and early care for treatment and favors spreading. The vaccination of exposed populations would be of great help to decrease morbidity and human-to-human transmission. Using reverse genetics, we generated a vaccine platform for pathogenic arenaviruses based on a modified and hyperattenuated strain of the nonpathogenic Mopeia virus and showed that the Lassa virus candidate fully protected nonhuman primates from a lethal challenge. These results showed that a rationally designed recombinant MOPV-based vaccine is safe, immunogenic, and efficacious in nonhuman primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Carnec
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Mathieu Mateo
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Audrey Page
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Stéphanie Reynard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Jimmy Hortion
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Caroline Picard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
| | - Elsie Yekwa
- CNRS, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques UMR 7257, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Laura Barrot
- Laboratoire P4 Jean Mérieux-INSERM, US003, INSERM, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Barron
- Laboratoire P4 Jean Mérieux-INSERM, US003, INSERM, Lyon, France
| | - Audrey Vallve
- Laboratoire P4 Jean Mérieux-INSERM, US003, INSERM, Lyon, France
| | - Hervé Raoul
- Laboratoire P4 Jean Mérieux-INSERM, US003, INSERM, Lyon, France
| | | | - François Ferron
- CNRS, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques UMR 7257, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Sylvain Baize
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (INSERM, CNRS, ENS Lyon, Université Lyon I), Lyon, France
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Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a persistent global health threat that causes about half a million cases of Lassa fever each year in Western Africa. Although most cases are mild, the disease can cause significant morbidity and results in as many as 5,000 deaths per year. Since 2015, Nigeria has been experiencing a severe and extended outbreak of Lassa fever, raising concerns that it could spill over into other countries and reach a magnitude similar to the West African Ebola outbreak of 2013-2016. Despite the burden that Lassa fever places on public health, both in Africa and around the world, there are still no clinically-approved therapeutics or vaccines to treat or prevent it. Nevertheless, a number of promising candidate vaccines have been developed over the last several years, and there is a growing political and social determination to drive at least one of these candidates towards licensure. This paper describes a LASV vaccine candidate that is being developed at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory. Based on the same live attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vaccine platform that was used to produce the successful Ebola virus vaccine, the VSV-based LASV vaccine has been shown to elicit a potent and protective immune response against LASV. The vaccine shows 100% protection in the "gold-standard" nonhuman primate model of Lassa fever, inducing both humoral and cellular immune responses. Moreover, studies have shown that a single vaccination may offer universal protection against numerous different strains of the virus, and additional studies have shown that immunization with the VSV platform appears to be unaffected by pre-existing immunity to VSV. The next step in the development of the VSV-based LASV vaccine is phase I human clinical trials to assess vaccine safety and dosage.
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Mariën J, Kourouma F, Magassouba N, Leirs H, Fichet-Calvet E. Movement Patterns of Small Rodents in Lassa Fever-Endemic Villages in Guinea. ECOHEALTH 2018; 15:348-359. [PMID: 29572697 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-018-1331-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is the reservoir host of Lassa arenavirus, the etiological agent of Lassa fever in humans. Because there exists no vaccine for human use, rodent control and adjusting human behavior are currently considered to be the only options for Lassa fever control. In order to develop efficient rodent control programs, more information about the host's ecology is needed. In this study, we investigated the spatial behavior of M. natalensis and other small rodents in two capture-mark-recapture and four dyed bait (Rhodamine B) experiments in Lassa fever-endemic villages in Upper Guinea. During the capture-mark-recapture studies, 23% of the recaptured M. natalensis moved between the houses and proximate fields. While M. natalensis was found over the entire study grid (2 ha), other rodent species (Praomys daltoni, Praomys rostratus, Lemniscomys striatus, Mus spp.) were mostly trapped in the surrounding fields. Distances between recapture occasions never exceeded 100 m for all rodent species. During the dyed bait experiments, 11% of M. natalensis and 41% of P. daltoni moved from the fields to houses. We conclude that commensal M. natalensis easily moves between houses and proximate fields in Guinea. We therefore consider occasional domestic rodent elimination to be an unsustainable approach to reduce Lassa virus transmission risk to humans, as M. natalensis is likely to reinvade houses quickly from fields in which rodents are not controlled. A combination of permanent rodent elimination with other control strategies (e.g., make houses rodent proof or attract predators) could be more effective for Lassa fever control, but must be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Mariën
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Fodé Kourouma
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques, Nongo, Conakry, Guinea
| | | | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
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Takayama-Ito M, Lim CK, Yamaguchi Y, Posadas-Herrera G, Kato H, Iizuka I, Islam MT, Morimoto K, Saijo M. Replication-incompetent rabies virus vector harboring glycoprotein gene of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) protects mice from LCMV challenge. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006398. [PMID: 29659579 PMCID: PMC5901774 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) causes a variety of diseases, including asymptomatic infections, meningitis, and congenital infections in the fetus of infected mother. The development of a safe and effective vaccine against LCMV is imperative. This study aims to develop a new candidate vaccine against LCMV using a recombinant replication-incompetent rabies virus (RV) vector. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In this study, we have generated a recombinant deficient RV expressing the LCMV glycoprotein precursor (GPC) (RVΔP-LCMV/GPC) which is lacking the RV-P gene. RVΔP-LCMV/GPC is able to propagate only in cells expressing the RV-P protein. In contrast, the LCMV-GPC can be expressed in general cells, which do not express RV-P protein. The ability of RVΔP-LCMV/GPC to protect mice from LCMV infection and induce cellular immunity was assessed. Mice inoculated intraperitoneally with RVΔP-LCMV/GPC showed higher survival rates (88.2%) than those inoculated with the parental recombinant RV-P gene-deficient RV (RVΔP) (7.7%) following a LCMV challenge. Neutralizing antibody (NAb) against LCMV was not induced, even in the sera of surviving mice. CD8+ T-cell depletion significantly reduced the survival rates of RVΔP-LCMV/GPC-inoculated mice after the LCMV challenge. These results suggest that CD8+ T cells play a major role in the observed protection against LCMV. In contrast, NAbs against RV were strongly induced in sera of mice inoculated with either RVΔP-LCMV/GPC or RVΔP. In safety tests, suckling mice inoculated intracerebrally with RVΔP-LCMV/GPC showed no symptoms. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These results show RVΔP-LCMV/GPC might be a promising candidate vaccine with dual efficacy, protecting against both RV and LCMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutsuyo Takayama-Ito
- Department of virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chang-Kweng Lim
- Department of virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukie Yamaguchi
- Department of virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Guillermo Posadas-Herrera
- Department of virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kato
- Department of virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Global Infectious Diseases, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Itoe Iizuka
- Department of virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Md. Taimur Islam
- Department of virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory of Virology and Viral Infections, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Kyonancho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kinjiro Morimoto
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women's University, Yasuhigashi, Asaminami, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masayuki Saijo
- Department of virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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