South American Hemorrhagic Fever viruses and the cutting edge of the vaccine and antiviral development
Uirusu. 2022;72(1):7-18. doi: 10.2222/jsv.72.7.ABSTRACTSouth American Hemorrhagic Fever is caused by the Arenavirus, which belong to the Family Arenaviridae, genus mammarenavirus, infection at South America. South American Hemorrhagic Fever includes 1. Argentinian Hemorrhagic fever caused by Junin virus, 2. Brazilian hemorrhagic fever caused by Sabia virus, 3. Venezuelan Hemorrhagic fever caused by Guanarito virus, 4. Bolivian Hemorrhagic fever caused by Machupo virus, and 5. Unassigned hemorrhagic fever caused by Chapare virus. These viruses are classified in New World (NW) Arenavirus, which is different from Old World Ar...
Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology - October 29, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Meion Lee Takaaki Koma Masaharu Iwasaki Shuzo Urata Source Type: research
Molecular basis for the multiplication of negative-strand RNA viruses: basic research and potential applications in vaccine development
This article describes our findings.PMID:37899232 | DOI:10.2222/jsv.72.67 (Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology)
Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology - October 29, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Masaharu Iwasaki Source Type: research
BSL-4 facility and New virus research in Japan
Uirusu. 2022;72(1):1-6. doi: 10.2222/jsv.72.1.ABSTRACTViral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola virus disease, Marburg disease, Lassa fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever are infectious diseases that can cause severe, life-threatening illness. At present, there are only few licensed vaccines and antiviral drugs for these viral hemorrhagic fevers. The viruses which cause these viral hemorrhagic fevers are classified as BSL-4 pathogens and can be handled only in BSL-4 containment laboratories. Therefore, to develop the vaccines and treatments for these diseases, BSL-4 facility is essential. However, the BSL-4 facility ava...
Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology - October 29, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Jiro Yasuda Source Type: research
South American Hemorrhagic Fever viruses and the cutting edge of the vaccine and antiviral development
Uirusu. 2022;72(1):7-18. doi: 10.2222/jsv.72.7.ABSTRACTSouth American Hemorrhagic Fever is caused by the Arenavirus, which belong to the Family Arenaviridae, genus mammarenavirus, infection at South America. South American Hemorrhagic Fever includes 1. Argentinian Hemorrhagic fever caused by Junin virus, 2. Brazilian hemorrhagic fever caused by Sabia virus, 3. Venezuelan Hemorrhagic fever caused by Guanarito virus, 4. Bolivian Hemorrhagic fever caused by Machupo virus, and 5. Unassigned hemorrhagic fever caused by Chapare virus. These viruses are classified in New World (NW) Arenavirus, which is different from Old World Ar...
Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology - October 29, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Meion Lee Takaaki Koma Masaharu Iwasaki Shuzo Urata Source Type: research
Molecular basis for the multiplication of negative-strand RNA viruses: basic research and potential applications in vaccine development
This article describes our findings.PMID:37899232 | DOI:10.2222/jsv.72.67 (Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology)
Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology - October 29, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Masaharu Iwasaki Source Type: research
BSL-4 facility and New virus research in Japan
Uirusu. 2022;72(1):1-6. doi: 10.2222/jsv.72.1.ABSTRACTViral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola virus disease, Marburg disease, Lassa fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever are infectious diseases that can cause severe, life-threatening illness. At present, there are only few licensed vaccines and antiviral drugs for these viral hemorrhagic fevers. The viruses which cause these viral hemorrhagic fevers are classified as BSL-4 pathogens and can be handled only in BSL-4 containment laboratories. Therefore, to develop the vaccines and treatments for these diseases, BSL-4 facility is essential. However, the BSL-4 facility ava...
Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology - October 29, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Jiro Yasuda Source Type: research
Environmental Persistence and Disinfection of Lassa Virus
Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Nov;29(11):2285-2291. doi: 10.3201/eid2911.230678.ABSTRACTLassa fever, caused by Lassa virus (LASV), is endemic to West Africa, where ≈300,000 illnesses and ≈5,000 deaths occur annually. LASV is primarily spread by infected multimammate rats via urine and fomites, highlighting the need to understand the environmental fate of LASV. We evaluated persistence of LASV Josiah and Sauerwald strains on surfaces, in aqueous solutions, and with sodium hypochlorite disinfection. Tested strains were more stable in deionized water (first-order rate constant [k] for Josiah, 0.23 days; for Sauerwald, k = 0.34 d...
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - October 25, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Marlee Shaffer Robert J Fischer Shane Gallogly Olivia Ginn Vincent Munster Kyle Bibby Source Type: research
Environmental Persistence and Disinfection of Lassa Virus
Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Nov;29(11):2285-2291. doi: 10.3201/eid2911.230678.ABSTRACTLassa fever, caused by Lassa virus (LASV), is endemic to West Africa, where ≈300,000 illnesses and ≈5,000 deaths occur annually. LASV is primarily spread by infected multimammate rats via urine and fomites, highlighting the need to understand the environmental fate of LASV. We evaluated persistence of LASV Josiah and Sauerwald strains on surfaces, in aqueous solutions, and with sodium hypochlorite disinfection. Tested strains were more stable in deionized water (first-order rate constant [k] for Josiah, 0.23 days; for Sauerwald, k = 0.34 d...
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - October 25, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Marlee Shaffer Robert J Fischer Shane Gallogly Olivia Ginn Vincent Munster Kyle Bibby Source Type: research
Environmental Persistence and Disinfection of Lassa Virus
M. Shaffer et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - October 13, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Norwegian global health expert John-Arne R øttingen named Wellcome Trust CEO
John-Arne Røttingen, a prominent public health official, diplomat, and medical scientist, has been appointed as the new head of the Wellcome Trust, the U.K. foundation announced today. Røttingen, who was the founding CEO of the
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
(CEPI) and has been ambassador for global health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his native Norway since 2020, will take up the influential role in 2024.
He will be just the sixth person in the past 50 years to run the research charity, which was established in 1936 with funds bequeathed in the will of Henry Wellcome, co-founder...
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - October 11, 2023 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
pH-dependent conformational change within the Lassa virus transmembrane domain elicits efficient membrane fusion
Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr. 2023 Sep 19:184233. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2023.184233. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTLassa virus (LASV) is the most prevalent member of the arenavirus family and the causative agent of Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever. Although there are annual outbreaks in West Africa, and recently isolated cases worldwide, there are no current therapeutics or vaccines, which poses LASV as a significant global public health threat. One of the key steps in LASV infection is the delivery of its genetic material by fusing its viral membrane with the host cell membrane. This process is facilitated by signi...
Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - September 21, 2023 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Patrick M Keating Nicholas P Schifano Xinrui Wei Matthew Y Kong Jinwoo Lee Source Type: research
pH-dependent conformational change within the Lassa virus transmembrane domain elicits efficient membrane fusion
Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr. 2023 Sep 19:184233. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2023.184233. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTLassa virus (LASV) is the most prevalent member of the arenavirus family and the causative agent of Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever. Although there are annual outbreaks in West Africa, and recently isolated cases worldwide, there are no current therapeutics or vaccines, which poses LASV as a significant global public health threat. One of the key steps in LASV infection is the delivery of its genetic material by fusing its viral membrane with the host cell membrane. This process is facilitated by signi...
Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - September 21, 2023 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Patrick M Keating Nicholas P Schifano Xinrui Wei Matthew Y Kong Jinwoo Lee Source Type: research
Combating the zoonotic trio of Ebola virus disease, Lassa fever, and COVID-19 in Nigeria: a retrospection of the challenges and lessons
Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023 Jul 3;85(8):3955-3959. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001038. eCollection 2023 Aug.ABSTRACTVarious infectious disease outbreaks linked to zoonotic sources have been recorded over the years, some of which have resulted in epidemics on a national, regional, or global scale. In Africa, a number of such outbreaks occur intermittently, especially in countries like Nigeria with a high-risk of epidemiological transmission. Three viral outbreaks with zoonotic links have hit the Nigerian healthcare system hardest, which are the Ebola virus disease, Lassa fever and Coronavirus disease 2019. Due to the fragile n...
Source: Annals of Medicine - August 9, 2023 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Emmanuel E Elebesunu Fortune B Effiong Marvellous O Asika Precious K Fadele Favour A Onyeogalu Charles A Okafor Godfred Y Scott Source Type: research
Investigating and combatting the key drivers of viral zoonoses in Africa: an analysis of eight epidemics
Braz J Biol. 2023 Jul 28;84:e270857. doi: 10.1590/1519-6984.270857. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTInvestigating the interplay of factors that result in a viral zoonotic outbreak is difficult, though it is increasingly important. As anthropogenic influences shift the delicate balance of ecosystems, new zoonoses emerge in humans. Sub-Saharan Africa is a notable hotspot for zoonotic disease due to abundant competent mammalian reservoir hosts. Furthermore, poverty, corruption, and an overreliance on natural resources play considerable roles in depleting biological resources, exacerbating the population's susceptibility. Unsurprisin...
Source: Braz J Biol - August 2, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: P O Isibor O O Onwaeze I I Kayode-Edwards D O Agbontaen I-A M Ifebem-Ezima O Bilewu C Onuselogu A P Akinniyi Y D Obafemi M I Oniha Source Type: research
