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Order Bunyavirales
Published in Paul Pumpens, Peter Pushko, Philippe Le Mercier, Virus-Like Particles, 2022
Paul Pumpens, Peter Pushko, Philippe Le Mercier
According to the latest ICTV issues (Radoshitzky et al. 2019), the Arenaviridae family unites 4 genera with 54 species, where the genus Mammarenavirus contains 40 species including the most familiar and dangerous arenavirus strains, such as Lassa virus (LASV) from the traditional Old World arenavirus group and Guanarito virus (GTOV), Junin virus (JUNV), Machupo virus (MACV), Sabia virus (SABV), and Whitewater Arroyo virus (WWAV) from the traditional New World virus group, as well as Lujo virus (LUJV), which may cause severe hemorrhagic fever syndromes resulting in significant mortality. First, the observed severe cases of disease have introduced the LASV as a reference arenavirus strain to the scientific community (Buckley et al. 1970). Second, one of the reference strains that was the most-studied representative of the family by the theoretical virological and immunological investigations, namely, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), may cause not only influenza-like syndromes but also severe aseptic meningitis. LCMV exists in both geographic areas but is regarded rather as an Old World virus.
Determination of Antiviral Activity
Published in Adorjan Aszalos, Modern Analysis of Antibiotics, 2020
The Arenaviridae family contains the American hemorrhagic fever viruses and the Lassa fever virus, both very serious human pathogens at present restricted to rather limited geographic areas. The American hemorrhagic fever viruses include Junin (located in Argentina), Machupo and Latino (Bolivia), Anapari (Brazil), Tamaimi (Florida), Pichinde (Colombia), Parana (Paraguay), and Tacaribe (Trinidad) [240]. These have been more broadly characterized as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers by Rosen [172]. Lassa fever, first recognized in 1969 in Nigeria, is an often fatal hemorrhagic fever disease of western Africa [172,252]. The importance of both American hemorrhagic fever and Lassa fever lies in the ease in which either could be transmitted anywhere in the world and potentially be of epidemic significance world wide. No vaccines are available.
Classification of Hemorrhagic Fevers
Published in James H. S. Gear, CRC Handbook of Viral and Rickettsial Hemorrhagic Fevers, 2019
Arenaviridae — the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus has been well known for many years. More recent studies have revealed that it is related to the Machupo virus, the cause of Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, and to other members of the Tacaribe complex, and more recently to Lassa virus from West Africa. These viruses are grouped together in the family Arenaviridae.5
Envelope proteins as antiviral drug target
Published in Journal of Drug Targeting, 2020
Jyoti Verma, Naidu Subbarao, Maitreyi S. Rajala
Enveloped viruses which enter through endosome use a variety of endocytic processes such as clathrin-dependent, clathrin-independent or caveolae-dependent [18]. Majority of enveloped viruses including members of Orthomyxoviridae, Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Rhabdoviridae and Arenaviridae families enters the cell through endocytosis. After binding to the attachment factor and/or the receptor on the host cell surface, the virus particle gets endocytosed and mediates the fusion inside the endosome. However, the fusion process of endocytosed virus can occur in early endosomes, late endosomes or endolysosomes, which depends upon the presence of the proper environmental cue(s) to trigger and support fusion [19]. Furthermore, the pH dependent entry is the major determinant of the endosomal fusion of viruses. Although, the pH range at which the conformational change of the envelope protein is triggered may vary from 4.8 to 6.5 depending upon the virus [16]. In some cases, the low pH of endosome is not sufficient and requires additional cue(s) to trigger the fusion process. The envelope proteins undergo major conformational changes exposing the buried fusion peptides/loops and fuse with the endosomal membrane to release the viral genome.
Post-exposure prophylactic vaccine candidates for the treatment of human Risk Group 4 pathogen infections
Published in Expert Review of Vaccines, 2020
James Logue, Ian Crozier, Peter B Jahrling, Jens H Kuhn
Lassa virus (LASV; Arenaviridae: Mammarenavirus), responsible for an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 cases of Lassa fever annually, is predominantly endemic in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone [107]. Symptoms and clinical signs of Lassa fever include fever, nausea, muscle aches, and in severe cases, hemorrhage, multi-system organ dysfunction, and death. LASV is most commonly transmitted through contact with infected rodents (predominantly Natal mastomys [Mastomys natalensis Smith, 1834]) or excrement from these rodents, but person-to-person transmission is limited. Vaccine development to prevent Lassa fever has been severely hampered by the high-genetic diversity associated with the multitude of LASV isolates [108]. However, with this caveat, a vaccine composed of single-cycle LASV replicating particles (VRPs) was 100% (5 of 5) efficacious when administered 24 h subsequent to an otherwise lethal LASV Josiah strain exposure in strain 13 guinea pigs [109]. Additionally, a recombinant vaccine, DEF201, has shown PEP efficacy against ‘arenaviral hemorrhagic fever’ in a Pichindé virus golden hamster surrogate model for Lassa fever, but efficacy against other mammarenaviruses, including LASV, is lacking [110]. At this time, no PEP vaccine testing in NHPs infected with LASV has been reported.
Patent landscape of novel technologies for combating category-A Arenavirus infections
Published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 2020
Harshal Sudhakar, Jignesh Bhate, Asish Kumar Patra
Viruses belonging to the Arenaviridae family present a unique threat; they are cause of serious epidemic VHF with a high possibility of giving rise to pandemic. The outbreaks are continuously monitored by public health agencies where these VHF’s are endemic [7]. Significant resources are invested to develop diagnostics and therapy, yet an effective treatment is still elusive. The Arenaviruses are categorized as category-A pathogens by NIAID for the past 10 years [7], to encourage private investment, and several of the VHF’s are designated as Orphan diseases which provide tax exemptions.