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Saito T, Reyna RA, Taniguchi S, Littlefield K, Paessler S, Maruyama J. Vaccine Candidates against Arenavirus Infections. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:635. [PMID: 36992218 PMCID: PMC10057967 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The viral family Arenaviridae contains several members that cause severe, and often lethal, diseases in humans. Several highly pathogenic arenaviruses are classified as Risk Group 4 agents and must be handled in the highest biological containment facility, biosafety level-4 (BSL-4). Vaccines and treatments are very limited for these pathogens. The development of vaccines is crucial for the establishment of countermeasures against highly pathogenic arenavirus infections. While several vaccine candidates have been investigated, there are currently no approved vaccines for arenavirus infection except for Candid#1, a live-attenuated Junin virus vaccine only licensed in Argentina. Current platforms under investigation for use include live-attenuated vaccines, recombinant virus-based vaccines, and recombinant proteins. We summarize here the recent updates of vaccine candidates against arenavirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Saito
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Rachel A. Reyna
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Satoshi Taniguchi
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Kirsten Littlefield
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Junki Maruyama
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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Comparative Animal Models of Human Viral Infections. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11121395. [PMID: 36558728 PMCID: PMC9785403 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative animal modeling has long served as a cornerstone for understanding the biological effects of infection by many DNA and RNA viruses [...].
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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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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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Shieh WJ, Demby A, Jones T, Goldsmith CS, Rollin PE, Ksiazek TG, Peters CJ, Zaki SR. Pathology and Pathogenesis of Lassa Fever: Novel Immunohistochemical Findings in Fatal Cases and Clinico-pathologic Correlation. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 74:1821-1830. [PMID: 34463715 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa fever is a zoonotic, acute viral illness first identified in Nigeria in 1969. An estimate shows that the "at risk" seronegative population (in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Nigeria) may be as high as 59 million, with an annual incidence of all illnesses of three million, and fatalities up to 67,000, demonstrating the serious impact of the disease on the region and global health. METHODS Histopathologic evaluation, immunohistochemical assay, and electron microscopic examination were performed on postmortem tissue samples from 12 confirmed Lassa fever cases. RESULTS Lassa fever virus antigens and viral particles were observed in multiple organ systems and cells, including cells in the mononuclear phagocytic system and other specialized cells where it had not been described previously. CONCLUSIONS The immunolocalization of Lassa fever virus antigens in fatal cases provides novel insightful information with clinical and pathogenetic implications. The extensive involvement of the mononuclear phagocytic system, including tissue macrophages and endothelial cells suggests participation of inflammatory mediators from this lineage with the resulting vascular dilatation and increasing permeability. Other findings indicate the pathogenesis of LF is multifactorial and additional studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wun-Ju Shieh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,All the work described in this manuscript was done at CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Austin Demby
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone.,All the work described in this manuscript was done at CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Tara Jones
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogen and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Cynthia S Goldsmith
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogen and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Pierre E Rollin
- All the work described in this manuscript was done at CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Thomas G Ksiazek
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.,All the work described in this manuscript was done at CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Clarence J Peters
- All the work described in this manuscript was done at CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sherif R Zaki
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogen and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Lan S, Shieh WJ, Huang Q, Zaki SR, Liang Y, Ly H. Virulent infection of outbred Hartley guinea pigs with recombinant Pichinde virus as a surrogate small animal model for human Lassa fever. Virulence 2021; 11:1131-1141. [PMID: 32799623 PMCID: PMC7549944 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1809328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arenaviruses, such as Lassa virus (LASV), can cause severe and fatal hemorrhagic fevers (e.g., Lassa fever, LF) in humans with no vaccines or therapeutics. Research on arenavirus-induced hemorrhagic fevers (AHFs) has been hampered by the highly virulent nature of these viral pathogens, which require high biocontainment laboratory, and the lack of an immune-competent small animal model that can recapitulate AHF disease and pathological features. Guinea pig infected with Pichinde virus (PICV), an arenavirus that does not cause disease in humans, has been established as a convenient surrogate animal model for AHFs as it can be handled in a conventional laboratory. The PICV strain P18, derived from sequential passaging of the virus 18 times in strain 13 inbred guinea pigs, causes severe febrile illness in guinea pigs that is reminiscent of lethal LF in humans. As inbred guinea pigs are not readily available and are difficult to maintain, outbred Hartley guinea pigs have been used but they show a high degree of disease heterogeneity upon virulent P18 PICV infection. Here, we describe an improved outbred guinea-pig infection model using recombinant rP18 PICV generated by reverse genetics technique followed by plaque purification, which consistently shows >90% mortality and virulent infection. Comprehensive virological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses of the rP18-virus infected animals show similar features of human LASV infection. Our data demonstrate that this improved animal model can serve as a safe, affordable, and convenient surrogate small animal model for studying human LF pathogenesis and for evaluating efficacy of preventative or therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuiyun Lan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Wun-Ju Shieh
- Infectious Disease Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Qinfeng Huang
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota , St Paul, MN, USA
| | - Sherif R Zaki
- Infectious Disease Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuying Liang
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota , St Paul, MN, USA
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota , St Paul, MN, USA
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Pichinde Virus Infection of Outbred Hartley Guinea Pigs as a Surrogate Animal Model for Human Lassa Fever: Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Analyses. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9070579. [PMID: 32708789 PMCID: PMC7400641 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9070579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is a mammarenavirus (arenavirus) that causes zoonotic infection in humans that can lead to fatal hemorrhagic Lassa fever (LF) disease. Currently, there are no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics against LASV. Development of treatments against LF and other related arenavirus-induced hemorrhagic fevers (AHFs) requires relevant animal models that can recapitulate clinical and pathological features of AHF diseases in humans. Laboratory mice are generally resistant to LASV infection, and non-human primates, while being a good animal model for LF, are limited by their high cost. Here, we describe a small, affordable, and convenient animal model that is based on outbred Hartley guinea pigs infected with Pichinde virus (PICV), a mammarenavirus that is non-pathogenic in humans, for use as a surrogate model of human LF. We conducted a detailed analysis of tissue histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis of different organs of outbred Hartley guinea pigs infected with different PICV strains that show differential disease phenotypes and pathologies. Comparing to infection with the avirulent PICV strain (P2 or rP2), animals infected with the virulent strain (P18 or rP18) show extensive pathological changes in different organs that sustain high levels of virus replication. The similarity of tissue pathology and viral antigen distribution between the virulent PICV–guinea pig model and lethal human LASV infection supports a role of this small animal model as a surrogate model of studying human LF in order to understand its pathogenesis and for evaluating potential preventative and therapeutic options against AHFs.
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