50 Years of Lassa Fever Research

Garry, Robert F.

doi:10.1007/82_2020_214

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 179 publications

(134 reference statements)

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“…More recently, LF has been observed in Mali, Ghana, and Benin [ 2 ]. LF was first described in Sierra Leone in the 1950s and was isolated in 1969 following the death of a nurse working at a hospital in Lassa, Nigeria [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The causal agent for LF is Lassa virus (LASV), an arenavirus found in Mastomys rats ( Mastomys natalensis ), a ubiquitous rodent in Sub-Saharan Africa [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first LF studies in Sierra Leone were carried out from 1973 to 1992 but were halted from 1993–2001 during the Blood Diamonds War [ 29 ]. Since 2006, the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium (VHFC) has carried out research activities in Sierra Leone, focusing on building LF diagnostics capacity and implementing research studies on LF pathogenesis and its epidemiological risk factors [ 5 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Space-Time Trends in Lassa Fever in Sierra Leone by ELISA Serostatus, 2012–2019

Shaffer

Schieffelin

Momoh³

et al. 2021

Microorganisms

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Lassa fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic disease found in Sub-Saharan Africa and is responsible for up to 300,000 cases and 5000 deaths annually. LF is highly endemic in Sierra Leone, particularly in its Eastern Province. Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) maintains one of only a few LF isolation facilities in the world with year-round diagnostic testing. Here we focus on space-time trends for LF occurring in Sierra Leone between 2012 and 2019 to provide a current account of LF in the wake of the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic. Data were analyzed for 3277 suspected LF cases and classified as acute, recent, and non-LF or prior LF exposure using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Presentation rates for acute, recent, and non-LF or prior LF exposure were 6.0% (195/3277), 25.6% (838/3277), and 68.4% (2244/3277), respectively. Among 2051 non-LF or prior LF exposures, 33.2% (682/2051) tested positive for convalescent LF exposure. The overall LF case-fatality rate (CFR) was 78.5% (106/135). Both clinical presentations and confirmed LF cases declined following the Ebola epidemic. These declines coincided with an increased duration between illness onset and clinical presentation, perhaps suggesting more severe disease or presentation at later stages of illness. Acute LF cases and their corresponding CFRs peaked during the dry season (November to April). Subjects with recent (but not acute) LF exposure were more likely to present during the rainy season (May to October) than the dry season (p < 0.001). The findings here suggest that LF remains endemic in Sierra Leone and that caseloads are likely to resume at levels observed prior to the Ebola epidemic. The results provide insight on the current epidemiological profile of LF in Sierra Leone to facilitate LF vaccine studies and accentuate the need for LF cohort studies and continued advancements in LF diagnostics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space-Time Trends in Lassa Fever in Sierra Leone by ELISA Serostatus, 2012–2019

Shaffer

Schieffelin

Momoh³

et al. 2021

Microorganisms

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“…Lineage I (LI) of LASV was responsible for the first documented case of LF in 1969, when two missionary nurses were fatally infected and a third individual had severe illness ( 9 ). Although few LF cases linked to LI have since been reported, LI circulates in a conflict zone in northeastern Nigeria that lacks the hospitals and infrastructure needed to treat LF patients and conduct medical research ( 10 ). Thus, LI infections in this region are likely underreported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutralizing Antibodies against Lassa Virus Lineage I

Buck

Enriquez

Schendel

et al. 2022

mBio

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“…Lassa fever (LF) is a viral illness of endemic proportion amongst the population of Western Africa [ 1 ] . The causative agent of the disease in mammals is Lassa mammarenavirus (LASV), while the rodent Mastomys natalensis is the main carrier and transmitter of the disease [ 2 ] . Lassa virus, the most virulent arenavirus, belongs to the Old World (OW) viruses [ 3 ] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Target specificity of selective bioactive compounds in blocking α-dystroglycan receptor to suppress Lassa virus infection: an <i>in</i> <i>silico</i> approach

Arefin¹,

Ema²,

Islam³

et al. 2021

J Biomed Res

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Lassa hemorrhagic fever, caused by Lassa mammarenavirus (LASV) infection, accumulates up to 5000 deaths every year. Currently, there is no vaccine available to combat this disease. In this study, a library of 200 bioactive compounds was virtually screened to study their drug-likeness with the capacity to block the α-dystroglycan (α-DG) receptor and prevent LASV influx. Following rigorous absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) profiling, molecular docking was conducted with the top ligands against the α-DG receptor. The compounds chrysin, reticuline, and 3-caffeoylshikimic acid emerged as the top three ligands in terms of binding affinity. Post-docking analysis revealed that interactions with Arg76, Asn224, Ser259, and Lys302 amino acid residues of the receptor protein were important for the optimum binding affinity of ligands. Molecular dynamics simulation was performed comprehensively to study the stability of the protein-ligand complexes. In-depth assessment of root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), polar surface area (PSA), B-Factor, radius of gyration (Rg), solvent accessible surface area (SASA), and molecular surface area (MolSA) values of the protein-ligand complexes affirmed that the candidates with the best binding affinity formed the most stable protein-ligand complexes. To authenticate the potentialities of the ligands as target-specific drugs, an in vivo study is underway in real time as the continuation of the research.

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50 Years of Lassa Fever Research

Cited by 4 publications

References 179 publications

Space-Time Trends in Lassa Fever in Sierra Leone by ELISA Serostatus, 2012–2019

Space-Time Trends in Lassa Fever in Sierra Leone by ELISA Serostatus, 2012–2019

Neutralizing Antibodies against Lassa Virus Lineage I

Target specificity of selective bioactive compounds in blocking α-dystroglycan receptor to suppress Lassa virus infection: an <i>in</i> <i>silico</i> approach

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