58 results on '"Mambu Momoh"'
Search Results
2. Seroprevalence of anti-Lassa Virus IgG antibodies in three districts of Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional, population-based study.
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Donald S Grant, Emily J Engel, Nicole Roberts Yerkes, Lansana Kanneh, James Koninga, Michael A Gbakie, Foday Alhasan, Franklyn B Kanneh, Ibrahim Mustapha Kanneh, Fatima K Kamara, Mambu Momoh, Mohamed S Yillah, Momoh Foday, Adaora Okoli, Ashley Zeoli, Caroline Weldon, Christopher M Bishop, Crystal Zheng, Jessica Hartnett, Karissa Chao, Kayla Shore, Lilia I Melnik, Mallory Mucci, Nell G Bond, Philip Doyle, Rachael Yenni, Rachel Podgorski, Samuel C Ficenec, Lina Moses, Jeffrey G Shaffer, Robert F Garry, and John S Schieffelin
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine ,RC955-962 ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 - Abstract
BackgroundLassa 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 findingsBetween 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 significanceIn 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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- 2023
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3. A prospective, multi-site, cohort study to estimate incidence of infection and disease due to Lassa fever virus in West African countries (the Enable Lassa research programme)-Study protocol.
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Suzanne Penfold, Ayola Akim Adegnika, Danny Asogun, Olufemi Ayodeji, Benedict N Azuogu, William A Fischer, Robert F Garry, Donald Samuel Grant, Christian Happi, Magassouba N'Faly, Adebola Olayinka, Robert Samuels, Jefferson Sibley, David A Wohl, Manfred Accrombessi, Ifedayo Adetifa, Giuditta Annibaldis, Anton Camacho, Chioma Dan-Nwafor, Akpénè Ruth Esperencia Deha, Jean DeMarco, Sophie Duraffour, Augustine Goba, Rebecca Grais, Stephan Günther, Énagnon Junior Juvénal Prince Honvou, Chikwe Ihekweazu, Christine Jacobsen, Lansana Kanneh, Mambu Momoh, Aminata Ndiaye, Robert Nsaibirni, Sylvanus Okogbenin, Chinwe Ochu, Ephraim Ogbaini, Énagnon Parsifal Marie Alexandre Logbo, John Demby Sandi, John S Schieffelin, Thomas Verstraeten, Nathalie J Vielle, Anges Yadouleton, Emmanuel Koffi Yovo, and Enable Protocol authorship group
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
BackgroundLassa fever (LF), a haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa fever virus (LASV), is endemic in West Africa and causes 5000 fatalities every year. The true prevalence and incidence rates of LF are unknown as infections are often asymptomatic, clinical presentations are varied, and surveillance systems are not robust. The aim of the Enable Lassa research programme is to estimate the incidences of LASV infection and LF disease in five West African countries. The core protocol described here harmonises key study components, such as eligibility criteria, case definitions, outcome measures, and laboratory tests, which will maximise the comparability of data for between-country analyses.MethodWe are conducting a prospective cohort study in Benin, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria (three sites), and Sierra Leone from 2020 to 2023, with 24 months of follow-up. Each site will assess the incidence of LASV infection, LF disease, or both. When both incidences are assessed the LASV cohort (nmin = 1000 per site) will be drawn from the LF cohort (nmin = 5000 per site). During recruitment participants will complete questionnaires on household composition, socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and LF history, and blood samples will be collected to determine IgG LASV serostatus. LF disease cohort participants will be contacted biweekly to identify acute febrile cases, from whom blood samples will be drawn to test for active LASV infection using RT-PCR. Symptom and treatment data will be abstracted from medical records of LF cases. LF survivors will be followed up after four months to assess sequelae, specifically sensorineural hearing loss. LASV infection cohort participants will be asked for a blood sample every six months to assess LASV serostatus (IgG and IgM).DiscussionData on LASV infection and LF disease incidence in West Africa from this research programme will determine the feasibility of future Phase IIb or III clinical trials for LF vaccine candidates.
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- 2023
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4. Expansion of CD8+ T cell population in Lassa virus survivors with low T cell precursor frequency reveals durable immune response in most survivors.
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Stephanie M LaVergne, Saori Sakabe, Mambu Momoh, Lansana Kanneh, Nell Bond, Robert F Garry, Donald S Grant, Juan Carlos de la Torre, Michael B A Oldstone, John S Schieffelin, and Brian M Sullivan
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine ,RC955-962 ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 - Abstract
IntroductionLassa 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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsForty-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.DiscussionDespite 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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- 2022
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5. Endotheliopathy and Platelet Dysfunction as Hallmarks of Fatal Lassa Fever
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Lucy E. Horton, Robert W. Cross, Jessica N. Hartnett, Emily J. Engel, Saori Sakabe, Augustine Goba, Mambu Momoh, John Demby Sandi, Thomas W. Geisbert, Robert F. Garry, John S. Schieffelin, Donald S. Grant, and Brian M. Sullivan
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Lassa fever ,hemostasis ,platelet ,protein C ,coagulation ,fibrinolysis ,Medicine ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 - Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) causes multisystem disease and has a fatality rate
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- 2020
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6. Deployable CRISPR-Cas13a diagnostic tools to detect and report Ebola and Lassa virus cases in real-time
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Kayla G. Barnes, Anna E. Lachenauer, Adam Nitido, Sameed Siddiqui, Robin Gross, Brett Beitzel, Katherine J. Siddle, Catherine A. Freije, Bonnie Dighero-Kemp, Samar B. Mehta, Amber Carter, Jessica Uwanibe, Fehintola Ajogbasile, Testimony Olumade, Ikponmwosa Odia, John Demby Sandi, Mambu Momoh, Hayden C. Metsky, Chloe K. Boehm, Aaron E. Lin, Molly Kemball, Daniel J. Park, Luis Branco, Matt Boisen, Brian Sullivan, Mihret F. Amare, Abdulwasiu B. Tiamiyu, Zahra F. Parker, Michael Iroezindu, Donald S. Grant, Kayvon Modjarrad, Cameron Myhrvold, Robert F. Garry, Gustavo Palacios, Lisa E. Hensley, Stephen F. Schaffner, Christian T. Happi, Andres Colubri, and Pardis C. Sabeti
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Science - Abstract
Outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers highlight the need for sensitive, field-deployable diagnostics. Here the authors present a CRISPR-based SHERLOCK platform with field protocol and mobile app for Ebola and Lassa fever outbreaks.
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- 2020
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7. Building diagnostic systems in Sierra Leone: The role of point-of-care devices in laboratory strengthening
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Rashid Ansumana, Fatmata Bah, Kan Biao, Doris Harding, Mohamed B. Jalloh, Ann H. Kelly, Francess Koker, Zikan Koroma, Mambu Momoh, Mohamed H. Rogers, James Rogers, Alice Street, Eva Vernooij, and Isatta Wurie
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point of care testing ,diagnostics ,sierra leone ,health systems strengthening ,laboratory strengthening ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 - Abstract
No abstract available.
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- 2020
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8. High crossreactivity of human T cell responses between Lassa virus lineages.
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Brian M Sullivan, Saori Sakabe, Jessica N Hartnett, Nhi Ngo, Augustine Goba, Mambu Momoh, John Demby Sandi, Lansana Kanneh, Beatrice Cubitt, Selma D Garcia, Brian C Ware, Dylan Kotliar, Refugio Robles-Sikisaka, Karthik Gangavarapu, Luis Branco, Philomena Eromon, Ikponmwosa Odia, Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovon, Onikepe Folarin, Sylvanus Okogbenin, Peter O Okokhere, Christian Happi, Juan Carlos de la Torre, Pardis C Sabeti, Kristian G Andersen, Robert F Garry, Donald S Grant, John S Schieffelin, and Michael B A Oldstone
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Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,RC581-607 ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - 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.
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- 2020
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9. Ebola Virus Persistence in Ocular Tissues and Fluids (EVICT) Study: Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction and Cataract Surgery Outcomes of Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone
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Jessica G. Shantha, John G. Mattia, Augustine Goba, Kayla G. Barnes, Faiqa K. Ebrahim, Colleen S. Kraft, Brent R. Hayek, Jessica N. Hartnett, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, John S. Schieffelin, John D. Sandi, Mambu Momoh, Simbirie Jalloh, Donald S. Grant, Kerry Dierberg, Joyce Chang, Sharmistha Mishra, Adrienne K. Chan, Rob Fowler, Tim O'Dempsey, Erick Kaluma, Taylor Hendricks, Roger Reiners, Melanie Reiners, Lowell A. Gess, Kwame ONeill, Sarian Kamara, Alie Wurie, Mohamed Mansaray, Nisha R. Acharya, William J. Liu, Sina Bavari, Gustavo Palacios, Moges Teshome, Ian Crozier, Paul E. Farmer, Timothy M. Uyeki, Daniel G. Bausch, Robert F. Garry, Matthew J. Vandy, and Steven Yeh
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Medicine ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 - Abstract
Background: Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors are at risk for uveitis during convalescence. Vision loss has been observed following uveitis due to cataracts. Since Ebola virus (EBOV) may persist in the ocular fluid of EVD survivors for an unknown duration, there are questions about the safety and feasibility of vision restorative cataract surgery in EVD survivors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of EVD survivors anticipating cataract surgery and patients with active uveitis to evaluate EBOV RNA persistence in ocular fluid, as well as vision outcomes post cataract surgery. Patients with aqueous humor that tested negative for EBOV RNA were eligible to proceed with manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS). Findings: We screened 137 EVD survivors from June 2016 – August 2017 for enrolment. We enrolled 50 EVD survivors; 46 with visually significant cataract, 1 with a subluxated lens, 2 with active uveitis and 1 with a blind painful eye due to uveitis. The median age was 24.0 years (IQR 17–35) and 35 patients (70%) were female. The median logMAR visual acuity (VA) was 3.0 (Snellen VA Hand motions; Interquartile Range, IQR: 1.2-3.0, Snellen VA 20/320 – Hand motions). All patients tested negative for EBOV RNA by RT-PCR in aqueous humor/vitreous fluid and conjunctiva at a median of 19 months (IQR 18-20) from EVD diagnosis in Phase 1 of ocular fluid sampling and 34 months (IQR 32-36) from EVD diagnosis in Phase 2 of ocular fluid sampling. Thirty-four patients underwent MSICS, with a preoperative median VA improvement from hand motions to 20/30 at three-month postoperative follow-up (P
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- 2018
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10. Cross-Reactive Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV in Pre-COVID-19 Blood Samples from Sierra Leoneans
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Rodrigo Borrega, Diana K. S. Nelson, Anatoliy P. Koval, Nell G. Bond, Megan L. Heinrich, Megan M. Rowland, Raju Lathigra, Duane J. Bush, Irina Aimukanova, Whitney N. Phinney, Sophia A. Koval, Andrew R. Hoffmann, Allison R. Smither, Antoinette R. Bell-Kareem, Lilia I. Melnik, Kaylynn J. Genemaras, Karissa Chao, Patricia Snarski, Alexandra B. Melton, Jaikin E. Harrell, Ashley A. Smira, Debra H. Elliott, Julie A. Rouelle, Gilberto Sabino-Santos, Arnaud C. Drouin, Mambu Momoh, John Demby Sandi, Augustine Goba, Robert J. Samuels, Lansana Kanneh, Michael Gbakie, Zoe L. Branco, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, John S. Schieffelin, James E. Robinson, Dahlene N. Fusco, Pardis C. Sabeti, Kristian G. Andersen, Donald S. Grant, Matthew L. Boisen, Luis M. Branco, and Robert F. Garry
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COVID-19 caseloads and deaths ,sub-Saharan Africa ,pre-existing immunity to coronaviruses ,recombinant antigens ,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays ,pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced lower COVID-19 caseloads and fewer deaths than countries in other regions worldwide. Under-reporting of cases and a younger population could partly account for these differences, but pre-existing immunity to coronaviruses is another potential factor. Blood samples from Sierra Leonean Lassa fever and Ebola survivors and their contacts collected before the first reported COVID-19 cases were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the presence of antibodies binding to proteins of coronaviruses that infect humans. Results were compared to COVID-19 subjects and healthy blood donors from the United States. Prior to the pandemic, Sierra Leoneans had more frequent exposures than Americans to coronaviruses with epitopes that cross-react with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS-CoV, and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The percentage of Sierra Leoneans with antibodies reacting to seasonal coronaviruses was also higher than for American blood donors. Serological responses to coronaviruses by Sierra Leoneans did not differ by age or sex. Approximately a quarter of Sierra Leonian pre-pandemic blood samples had neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, while about a third neutralized MERS-CoV pseudovirus. Prior exposures to coronaviruses that induce cross-protective immunity may contribute to reduced COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sierra Leone.
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- 2021
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11. The Origins and Future of Sentinel: An Early-Warning System for Pandemic Preemption and Response
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Yolanda Botti-Lodovico, Parvathy Nair, Dolo Nosamiefan, Matthew Stremlau, Stephen Schaffner, Sebastian V. Agignoae, John Oke Aiyepada, Fehintola V. Ajogbasile, George O. Akpede, Foday Alhasan, Kristian G. Andersen, Danny A. Asogun, Oladele Oluwafemi Ayodeji, Aida S. Badiane, Kayla Barnes, Matthew R. Bauer, Antoinette Bell-Kareem, Muoebonam Ekene Benard, Ebo Ohomoime Benevolence, Osiemi Blessing, Chloe K. Boehm, Matthew L. Boisen, Nell G. Bond, Luis M. Branco, Michael J. Butts, Amber Carter, Andres Colubri, Awa B. Deme, Katherine C. DeRuff, Younousse Diédhiou, Akhilomen Patience Edamhande, Siham Elhamoumi, Emily J. Engel, Philomena Eromon, Mosoka Fallah, Onikepe A. Folarin, Ben Fry, Robert Garry, Amy Gaye, Michael Gbakie, Sahr M. Gevao, Gabrielle Gionet, Adrianne Gladden-Young, Augustine Goba, Jules Francois Gomis, Anise N. Happi, Mary Houghton, Chikwe Ihekwuazu, Christopher Ojemiega Iruolagbe, Jonathan Jackson, Simbirie Jalloh, Jeremy Johnson, Lansana Kanneh, Adeyemi Kayode, Molly Kemball, Ojide Chiedozie Kingsley, Veronica Koroma, Dylan Kotliar, Samar Mehta, Hayden C. Metsky, Airende Michael, Marzieh Ezzaty Mirhashemi, Kayvon Modjarrad, Mambu Momoh, Cameron A. Myhrvold, Okonofua Grace Naregose, Tolla Ndiaye, Mouhamadou Ndiaye, Aliou Ndiaye, Erica Normandin, Ikponmwosa Odia, Judith Uche Oguzie, Sylvanus A. Okogbenin, Peter O. Okokhere, Johnson Okolie, Idowu B. Olawoye, Testimony J. Olumade, Paul E. Oluniyi, Omigie Omoregie, Daniel J. Park, Mariétou Faye Paye, Brittany Petros, Anthony A. Philippakis, Abechi Priscilla, Alan Ricks, Anne Rimoin, John Demby Sandi, John S. Schieffelin, Monica Schreiber, Mame Cheikh Seck, Sameed Siddiqui, Katherine Siddle, Allison R. Smither, Mouhamad Sy, Ngayo Sy, Christopher H. Tomkins-Tinch, Oyewale Tomori, Chinedu Ugwu, Jessica N. Uwanibe, Eghosasere Anthonia Uyigue, Dada Ireti Victoria, Anika Vinzé, Megan E. Vodzak, Nicole Welch, Haja Isatta Wurie, Daba Zoumarou, Donald S. Grant, Daouda Ndiaye, Bronwyn MacInnis, Pardis C. Sabeti, and Christian Happi
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pandemic preemption ,pandemic response ,diagnostic tools ,bioinformatics ,genomic surveillance ,infectious disease ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
While investigating a signal of adaptive evolution in humans at the gene LARGE, we encountered an intriguing finding by Dr. Stefan Kunz that the gene plays a critical role in Lassa virus binding and entry. This led us to pursue field work to test our hypothesis that natural selection acting on LARGE—detected in the Yoruba population of Nigeria—conferred resistance to Lassa Fever in some West African populations. As we delved further, we conjectured that the “emerging” nature of recently discovered diseases like Lassa fever is related to a newfound capacity for detection, rather than a novel viral presence, and that humans have in fact been exposed to the viruses that cause such diseases for much longer than previously suspected. Dr. Stefan Kunz’s critical efforts not only laid the groundwork for this discovery, but also inspired and catalyzed a series of events that birthed Sentinel, an ambitious and large-scale pandemic prevention effort in West Africa. Sentinel aims to detect and characterize deadly pathogens before they spread across the globe, through implementation of its three fundamental pillars: Detect, Connect, and Empower. More specifically, Sentinel is designed to detect known and novel infections rapidly, connect and share information in real time to identify emerging threats, and empower the public health community to improve pandemic preparedness and response anywhere in the world. We are proud to dedicate this work to Stefan Kunz, and eagerly invite new collaborators, experts, and others to join us in our efforts.
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- 2021
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12. Data set on Lassa fever in post-conflict Sierra Leone
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Jeffrey G. Shaffer, John S. Schieffelin, Donald S. Grant, Augustine Goba, Mambu Momoh, Lansana Kanneh, Danielle C. Levy, Jessica N. Hartnett, Matt L. Boisen, Luis M. Branco, and Robert F. Garry
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Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics ,R858-859.7 ,Science (General) ,Q1-390 - Abstract
Lassa fever is a rodent-borne illness that is endemic to parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Guinea. The disease is named after the town of Lassa, Nigeria where it was discovered in 1969. This data article focuses on the epidemiology of Lassa fever in Sierra Leone following a decade-long civil war that ended in 2002. The data were collected at Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) in Kenema, Sierra Leone, which maintains the country׳s only Lassa fever treatment facility and a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory. The key data set variables include Lassa fever serostatus determined using antigen (Ag), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISA diagnostic techniques; and patient demographics, survival outcome, and treatment (ribavirin) status. The individual data used to generate the graphs and tables in the corresponding research manuscript published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2014 and its coding guide are provided as Supplementary material (Shaffer et al., 2014) [1]. Keywords: Infectious disease, Lassa fever, Epidemiology, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Sierra Leone
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- 2019
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13. A medical records and data capture and management system for Lassa fever in Sierra Leone: Approach, implementation, and challenges.
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Jeffrey G Shaffer, John S Schieffelin, Michael Gbakie, Foday Alhasan, Nicole B Roberts, Augustine Goba, Jessica Randazzo, Mambu Momoh, Troy D Moon, Lansana Kanneh, Danielle C Levy, Rachel M Podgorski, Jessica N Hartnett, Matt L Boisen, Luis M Branco, Robert Samuels, Donald S Grant, Robert F Garry, and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Situated in southeastern Sierra Leone, Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) maintains one of the world's only Lassa fever isolation wards and was a strategic Ebola virus disease (EVD) treatment facility during the 2014 EVD outbreak. Since 2006, the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium (VHFC) has carried out research activities at KGH, capturing clinical and laboratory data for suspected cases of Lassa fever. Here we describe the approach, progress, and challenges in designing and maintaining a data capture and management system (DCMS) at KGH to assist infectious disease researchers in building and sustaining DCMS in low-resource environments. Results on screening patterns and case-fatality rates are provided to illustrate the context and scope of the DCMS covered in this study. A medical records system and DCMS was designed and implemented between 2010 and 2016 linking historical and prospective Lassa fever data sources across KGH Lassa fever units and its peripheral health units. Data were captured using a case report form (CRF) system, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plate readers, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines, blood chemistry analyzers, and data auditing procedures. Between 2008 and 2016, blood samples for 4,229 suspected Lassa fever cases were screened at KGH, ranging from 219 samples in 2008 to a peak of 760 samples in 2011. Lassa fever case-fatality rates before and following the Ebola outbreak were 65.5% (148/226) and 89.5% (17/19), respectively, suggesting that fewer, but more seriously ill subjects with Lassa fever presented to KGH following the 2014 EVD outbreak (p = .040). DCMS challenges included weak specificity of the Lassa fever suspected case definition, limited capture of patient survival outcome data, internet costs, lapses in internet connectivity, low bandwidth, equipment and software maintenance, lack of computer teaching laboratories, and workload fluctuations due to variable screening activity. DCMS are the backbone of international research efforts and additional literature is needed on the topic for establishing benchmarks and driving goal-based approaches for its advancement in developing countries.
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- 2019
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14. Space-Time Trends in Lassa Fever in Sierra Leone by ELISA Serostatus, 2012–2019
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Jeffrey G. Shaffer, John S. Schieffelin, Mambu Momoh, Augustine Goba, Lansana Kanneh, Foday Alhasan, Michael Gbakie, Emily J. Engel, Nell G. Bond, Jessica N. Hartnett, Diana K. S. Nelson, Duane J. Bush, Matthew L. Boisen, Megan L. Heinrich, Megan M. Rowland, Luis M. Branco, Robert J. Samuels, Robert F. Garry, Donald S. Grant, and the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium
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Lassa fever ,Lassa virus ,case-fatality rate ,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ,Ebola virus disease ,Sierra Leone ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
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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- 2021
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15. Most neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies target novel epitopes requiring both Lassa virus glycoprotein subunits
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James E. Robinson, Kathryn M. Hastie, Robert W. Cross, Rachael E. Yenni, Deborah H. Elliott, Julie A. Rouelle, Chandrika B. Kannadka, Ashley A. Smira, Courtney E. Garry, Benjamin T. Bradley, Haini Yu, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Matt L. Boisen, Jessica N. Hartnett, Michelle A. Zandonatti, Megan M. Rowland, Megan L. Heinrich, Luis Martínez-Sobrido, Benson Cheng, Juan C. de la Torre, Kristian G. Andersen, Augustine Goba, Mambu Momoh, Mohamed Fullah, Michael Gbakie, Lansana Kanneh, Veronica J. Koroma, Richard Fonnie, Simbirie C. Jalloh, Brima Kargbo, Mohamed A. Vandi, Momoh Gbetuwa, Odia Ikponmwosa, Danny A. Asogun, Peter O. Okokhere, Onikepe A. Follarin, John S. Schieffelin, Kelly R. Pitts, Joan B. Geisbert, Peter C. Kulakoski, Russell B. Wilson, Christian T. Happi, Pardis C. Sabeti, Sahr M. Gevao, S. Humarr Khan, Donald S. Grant, Thomas W. Geisbert, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Luis M. Branco, and Robert F. Garry
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Science - Abstract
Lassa virus can cause haemorrhagic fever for which no specific treatment currently exists. Here the authors have cloned 113 monoclonal antibodies from the survivors of Lassa infection and show that the majority of neutralizing antibodies target a complex of GP1 and GP2 viral proteins.
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- 2016
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16. Novel Tools for Lassa Virus Surveillance in Peri-domestic Rodents
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Allison R. Smither, James Koninga, Franklyn B. Kanneh, Momoh Foday, Matthew L. Boisen, Nell G. Bond, Mambu Momoh, John Demby Sandi, Lansana Kanneh, Foday Alhasan, Ibrahim Mustapha Kanneh, Mohamed S. Yillah, Donald S. Grant, Duane J. Bush, Diana K. S. Nelson, Kaitlin M. Cruz, Raphaëlle Klitting, Matthias Pauthner, Kristian G. Andersen, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Robert W. Cross, John S. Schieffelin, and Robert F. Garry
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Article - Abstract
BackgroundLassa fever (LF) is a rodent-borne disease endemic to West Africa. In the absence of licensed therapeutics or vaccines, rodent exclusion from living spaces remains the primary method of preventing LF. Zoonotic surveillance of Lassa virus (LASV), the etiologic agent of LF, can assess the burden of LASV in a region and guide public health measures against LF.MethodsIn this study, we adapted commercially available LASV human diagnostics to assess the prevalence of LASV in peri-domestic rodents in Eastern Sierra Leone. Small mammal trapping was conducted in Kenema district, Sierra Leone between November 2018-July 2019. LASV antigen was detected using a commercially available LASV NP antigen rapid diagnostic test. LASV IgG antibodies against LASV nucleoprotein (NP) and glycoprotein (GP) were tested by adapting a commercially available semi-quantitative enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of mouse-related and rat-related species IgG.FindingsOf the 373 tested specimens, 74 (20%) tested positive for LASV antigen. 40 (11%) specimens tested positive for LASV NP IgG, while an additional 12 (3%) specimens only tested positive for LASV GP IgG. Simultaneous antigen presence and IgG antibody presence was linked inMastomys sp. specimens (p< 0.01), but notRattus sp. specimens (p= 1). Despite the link between antigen presence and IgG antibody presence inMastomys sp., the strength of antigen response did not correlate with the strength of IgG response to either GP IgG or NP IgG.InterpretationThe tools developed in this study can aid in the generation of valuable public health data for rapid field assessment of LASV burden during outbreak investigations and general LASV surveillance.FundingFunding for this work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services under the following grants: International Collaboration in Infectious Disease Research on Lassa fever and Ebola - ICIDR - U19 AI115589, Consortium for Viral Systems Biology - CViSB - 5U19AI135995, West African Emerging Infectious Disease Research Center - WARN-ID - U01AI151812, West African Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases: U01AI151801.
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- 2023
17. Posterior Segment Ophthalmic Manifestations in Ebola Survivors, Sierra Leone
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Alcides Fernandes, J. Clay Bavinger, Erick Kaluma, Nisha R. Acharya, Duncan E. Berry, Alie H. Wurie, Moges Teshome, Jessica N. Hartnett, Roger Reiners, Jessica G. Shantha, William J. Liu, John S. Schieffelin, Timothy M. Uyeki, Daniel G. Bausch, Ian Crozier, Daddy Kamara, Robert F. Garry, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Augustine Goba, Kerry Dierberg, John Demby Sandi, Melanie Reiners, Tim O'Dempsey, John G. Mattia, Mohamed Mansaray, Yusuf Kabba, Colleen S. Kraft, Sharmistha Mishra, Brent Hayek, Taylor Hendricks, Rob Fowler, Joyce Chang, Faiqa K. Ebrahim, Jalikatu Mustapha, Don Grant, Steven Yeh, Lloyd Harrison-Williams, Kwame O’Neill, Sina Bavari, Adrienne K. Chan, Mambu Momoh, Lowell A. Gess, Simbirie Jalloh, Gustavo Palacios, Paul Farmer, Sarian Kamara, and Matthew J. Vandy
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Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Eye Diseases ,Eye Infections, Viral ,Article ,Cataract ,Disease Outbreaks ,Sierra Leone ,West africa ,Sierra leone ,Young Adult ,Ophthalmology ,medicine ,Global health ,Humans ,Survivors ,business.industry ,Retinal Detachment ,Chorioretinitis ,Retinal detachment ,Epiretinal Membrane ,Uveitis, Posterior ,Posterior Eye Segment ,Vitreoretinal surgery ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Middle Aged ,Ebolavirus ,medicine.disease ,Vitreous Body ,Posterior segment of eyeball ,Female ,business ,Uveitis - Published
- 2021
18. Endotheliopathy and Platelet Dysfunction as Hallmarks of Fatal Lassa Fever
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Robert W. Cross, Brian M. Sullivan, Saori Sakabe, Lucy E Horton, John S. Schieffelin, Mambu Momoh, Robert F. Garry, Emily J Engel, Thomas W. Geisbert, Jessica N. Hartnett, Donald S. Grant, Augustine Goba, and John Demby Sandi
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Male ,Epidemiology ,vector-borne infections ,lcsh:Medicine ,protein C ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Platelet ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Child ,platelet ,Endothelial protein C receptor ,Middle Aged ,Infectious Diseases ,Child, Preschool ,Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 ,Female ,fibrinolysis ,hemorrhagic fever ,medicine.drug ,Lassa fever ,Adult ,Blood Platelets ,Microbiology (medical) ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,030231 tropical medicine ,Thrombomodulin ,Sierra Leone ,Sierra leone ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Tissue factor ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,viruses ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,Endothelium ,coagulation ,Blood Coagulation ,Aged ,business.industry ,Research ,lcsh:R ,Infant ,zoonoses ,Endocrinology ,chemistry ,Endotheliopathy and Platelet Dysfunction as Hallmarks of Fatal Lassa Fever ,Hemostasis ,hemostasis ,business ,Protein C - Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) causes multisystem disease and has a fatality rate
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- 2020
19. Lassa Fever among Children in Eastern Province, Sierra Leone: A 7-year Retrospective Analysis (2012–2018)
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Joseph R. Starnes, John S. Schieffelin, Donald S. Grant, Robert J. Samuels, Emily J Engel, Troy D. Moon, Augustine Goba, John Demby Sandi, Mambu Momoh, Robert F. Garry, Veronica J. Koroma, Foday Alhasan, Michael Gbakie, and Jeffrey G. Shaffer
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Male ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Time Factors ,Adolescent ,Antibodies, Viral ,Sierra leone ,Sierra Leone ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Lassa Fever ,Virology ,Case fatality rate ,medicine ,Humans ,Lassa fever ,Child ,Lassa virus ,Antigens, Viral ,Retrospective Studies ,Creatinine ,Univariate analysis ,business.industry ,Ribavirin ,Infant, Newborn ,Infant ,Retrospective cohort study ,Odds ratio ,Articles ,medicine.disease ,Infectious Diseases ,chemistry ,Child, Preschool ,Parasitology ,Female ,business - Abstract
Pediatric Lassa fever (LF) usually presents as a nonspecific febrile illness, similar to other endemic diseases in countries like Sierra Leone, where LF is considered to be hyperendemic. The nonspecificity of presentation and lack of research have made it difficult to fully understand best practices for pediatric management. We aim to describe clinical characteristics of hospitalized pediatric patients suspected or diagnosed with LF and assess factors associated with hospital outcomes among those with LF antigen–positive results. We conducted a 7-year retrospective cohort study using routine data for all children younger than 18 years admitted at the Kenema Government Hospital’s LF ward. A total of 292 children with suspected or confirmed LF were analyzed. Overall, mortality was high (21%). Children with antigen-positive results had a high case fatality rate of 63% (P < 0.01). In univariate analyses, children who presented with unexplained bleeding (odds ratio [OR]: 3.58; 95% CI: 1.08–11.86; P = 0.040) and confusion (altered sensorium) (OR: 5.37; 95% CI: 1.34–21.48; P = 0.020) had increased odds of death. Abnormal serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.001), creatinine (P = 0.004), and potassium (P = 0.003) were associated with increased likelihood of death in these children. Treatment with ribavirin was not significantly associated with survival (P = 0.916). Our findings provide insights into current pediatric LF clinical presentation and management. More evidence-based, high-quality research in creating predictive algorithms of antigen-positivity and hospital outcomes is needed in the management of pediatric LF.
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- 2020
20. Antibodies from Sierra Leonean and Nigerian Lassa fever survivors cross-react with recombinant proteins representing Lassa viruses of divergent lineages
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Olusola A Ogunsanya, Francis Baimba, Johan Holst, Simji S. Gomerep, Robert F. Garry, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Peter O. Okokhere, Raju Lathigra, Viktoriya Borisevich, Diana K. S. Nelson, Luis M. Branco, Benevolence Ebo, Sylvanus Okogbenin, John S. Schieffelin, John Aiyepada, Mambu Momoh, Robert W. Cross, Megan L. Heinrich, Anatoliy P. Koval, Matthew L. Boisen, Thomas W. Geisbert, Augustine Goba, Megan M. Rowland, Andrew R. Hoffmann, Onikepe A. Folarin, E. E. Ella, John Demby Sandi, Christian T. Happi, Chinedu A Ugwu, lkponmwosa Odia, Johnson Etafo, Brandon J. Beddingfield, Macdonald Nonso Onyechi, Donald S. Grant, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Rashidat Adeyemi, M. Aminu, Sophia A. Koval, Kathryn M. Hastie, Duane J. Bush, George O. Akpede, Philomena Eromon, Matthew Afam Eke, Danny Asogun, Irina Aimukanova, and Testimony J. Olumade
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0301 basic medicine ,Immunology ,Nigeria ,lcsh:Medicine ,Cross Reactions ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antibodies, Viral ,Microbiology ,Neutralization ,Article ,Antibodies ,Sierra leone ,Sierra Leone ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Immune system ,Lassa Fever ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Survivors ,Lassa fever ,Lassa virus ,lcsh:Science ,Antigens, Viral ,Multidisciplinary ,biology ,lcsh:R ,Genetic Variation ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,Recombinant Proteins ,Nucleoprotein ,Immunity, Humoral ,030104 developmental biology ,Nucleoproteins ,Humoral immunity ,biology.protein ,Immunization ,lcsh:Q ,Antibody - Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is the causative agent of Lassa fever, an often-fatal hemorrhagic disease that is endemic in West Africa. Seven genetically distinct LASV lineages have been identified. As part of CEPI’s (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) Lassa vaccine development program, we assessed the potential of the human immune system to mount cross-reactive and cross-protective humoral immune responses to antigens from the most prevalent LASV lineages, which are lineages II and III in Nigeria and lineage IV in Sierra Leone. IgG and IgM present in the blood of Lassa fever survivors from Nigeria or Sierra Leone exhibited substantial cross-reactivity for binding to LASV nucleoprotein and two engineered (linked and prefusion) versions of the glycoproteins (GP) of lineages II–IV. There was less cross-reactivity for the Zinc protein. Serum or plasma from Nigerian Lassa fever survivors neutralized LASV pseudoviruses expressing lineage II GP better than they neutralized lineage III or IV GP expressing pseudoviruses. Sierra Leonean survivors did not exhibit a lineage bias. Neutralization titres determined using LASV pseudovirus assays showed significant correlation with titres determined by plaque reduction with infectious LASV. These studies provide guidance for comparison of humoral immunity to LASV of distinct lineages following natural infection or immunization.
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- 2020
21. Field evaluation of a Pan-Lassa rapid diagnostic test during the 2018 Nigerian Lassa fever outbreak
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Ekaete Alice Tobin, Matthew L. Boisen, Meike Pahlmann, Chris Aire, Diana K. S. Nelson, John S. Schieffelin, Adeyemi T. Kayode, Luis M. Branco, Solomon Ehikhametalor, Onikepe A. Folarin, Patience Akhilomen, Jacqueline Agbukor, Danny Asogun, Donatus I Adomeh, Ikponmwosa Odia, Grace Okonofua, John Aiyepada, Katherine J. Siddle, Blessing Osiemi, Augustine Goba, Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovan, Megan L. Heinrich, Kayla G. Barnes, Peter O. Okokhere, John Demby Sandi, Megan M. Rowland, Philomena Eromon, Pardis C. Sabeti, Robert F. Garry, Ekene B. Muoebonam, Samar B. Mehta, Eghosa Uyigue, Christian T. Happi, Michael Airende, Stephan Günther, Sophie Duraffour, Lisa Oestereich, Sylvanus Okogbenin, Omigie Omoregie, Donald S. Grant, Duane J. Bush, George O. Akpede, Mambu Momoh, and Wiebke Böhm
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Adult ,Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Point-of-Care Systems ,viruses ,Immunology ,Nigeria ,lcsh:Medicine ,Antibodies, Viral ,medicine.disease_cause ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Microbiology ,Article ,Virus ,Disease Outbreaks ,Sierra leone ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Lassa Fever ,0302 clinical medicine ,Case fatality rate ,parasitic diseases ,Humans ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Lassa virus ,Lassa fever ,lcsh:Science ,Antigens, Viral ,Rapid diagnostic test ,Multidisciplinary ,biology ,Diagnostic Tests, Routine ,Sequence Analysis, RNA ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,Outbreak ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,030104 developmental biology ,biology.protein ,RNA, Viral ,Female ,lcsh:Q ,Antibody ,business - Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV) is the causative agent of Lassa fever (LF), an often-fatal hemorrhagic disease. LF is endemic in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and other West African countries. Diagnosis of LASV infection is challenged by the genetic diversity of the virus, which is greatest in Nigeria. The ReLASV Pan-Lassa Antigen Rapid Test (Pan-Lassa RDT) is a point-of-care, in vitro diagnostic test that utilizes a mixture of polyclonal antibodies raised against recombinant nucleoproteins of representative strains from the three most prevalent LASV lineages (II, III and IV). We compared the performance of the Pan-LASV RDT to available quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays during the 2018 LF outbreak in Nigeria. For patients with acute LF (RDT positive, IgG/IgM negative) during initial screening, RDT performance was 83.3% sensitivity and 92.8% specificity when compared to composite results of two qPCR assays. 100% of samples that gave Ct values below 22 on both qPCR assays were positive on the Pan-Lassa RDT. There were significantly elevated case fatality rates and elevated liver transaminase levels in subjects whose samples were RDT positive compared to RDT negative.
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- 2020
22. Cross-Reactive Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV in Pre-COVID-19 Blood Samples from Sierra Leoneans
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Augustine Goba, John Demby Sandi, Luis M. Branco, Megan L. Heinrich, Sophia A. Koval, Mambu Momoh, Karissa Chao, Patricia Snarski, Duane J. Bush, Andrew R. Hoffmann, Alexandra Melton, Nell G. Bond, Antoinette R. Bell-Kareem, Irina Aimukanova, Robert J. Samuels, Matthew L. Boisen, Rodrigo Borrega, Jaikin E Harrell, Lansana Kanneh, Anatoliy P. Koval, Megan M. Rowland, Whitney N. Phinney, Zoe L. Branco, Robert F. Garry, Pardis C. Sabeti, Debra Elliott, Diana K. S. Nelson, Kristian G. Andersen, Dahlene N. Fusco, James E. Robinson, Kaylynn J. Genemaras, Lilia I. Melnik, Raju Lathigra, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Michael Gbakie, Julie A. Rouelle, Ashley A. Smira, Allison R. Smither, John S. Schieffelin, Gilberto Sabino-Santos, Don Grant, and Arnaud Drouin
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Male ,sub-Saharan Africa ,Cross Protection ,viruses ,COVID-19 caseloads and deaths ,Blood Donors ,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antibodies, Viral ,Serology ,Epitopes ,Pandemic ,Medicine ,Lassa fever ,Antigens, Viral ,Coronavirus ,education.field_of_study ,biology ,Alphacoronavirus ,virus diseases ,recombinant antigens ,pre-existing immunity to coronaviruses ,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays ,pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies ,Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus ,QR1-502 ,Infectious Diseases ,Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ,Female ,Antibody ,Population ,Cross Reactions ,Microbiology ,Article ,Sierra leone ,Sierra Leone ,Betacoronavirus ,Age Distribution ,Immunity ,Virology ,Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins ,Humans ,Viral Pseudotyping ,education ,business.industry ,SARS-CoV-2 ,COVID-19 ,medicine.disease ,Phosphoproteins ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,United States ,biology.protein ,business - Abstract
Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced lower COVID-19 caseloads and fewer deaths than countries in other regions worldwide. Under-reporting of cases and a younger population could partly account for these differences, but pre-existing immunity to coronaviruses is another potential factor. Blood samples from Sierra Leonean Lassa fever and Ebola survivors and their contacts collected before the first reported COVID-19 cases were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the presence of antibodies binding to proteins of coronaviruses that infect humans. Results were compared to COVID-19 subjects and healthy blood donors from the United States. Prior to the pandemic, Sierra Leoneans had more frequent exposures than Americans to coronaviruses with epitopes that cross-react with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS-CoV, and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The percentage of Sierra Leoneans with antibodies reacting to seasonal coronaviruses was also higher than for American blood donors. Serological responses to coronaviruses by Sierra Leoneans did not differ by age or sex. Approximately a quarter of Sierra Leonian pre-pandemic blood samples had neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, while about a third neutralized MERS-CoV pseudovirus. Prior exposures to coronaviruses that induce cross-protective immunity may contribute to reduced COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sierra Leone.
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- 2021
23. Predicting the evolution of Lassa Virus endemic area and population at risk over the next decades
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Bram Vrancken, Michelle McGraw, Augustine Goba, Stephan Günther, Sophie Duraffour, Mambu Momoh, W. Thiery, Kristian G. Andersen, Phillipe Lemey, Mark Zeller, Simon Dellicour, Robert F. Garry, J. Demby Sandy, Allison R. Smither, Don Grant, Marc A. Suchard, A. Kotamarthi, Liana E. Kafetzopoulou, Laura D. Hughes, Karthik Gangavarapu, Matthias Pauthner, G. Dudas, Raphaëlle Klitting, F. Alhasan, and Sophie Gryseels
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medicine.medical_specialty ,education.field_of_study ,Land use ,viruses ,Public health ,Population ,medicine.disease ,medicine.disease_cause ,Virus ,Viral hemorrhagic fever ,Geography ,Lassa virus ,medicine ,Population growth ,Lassa fever ,Socioeconomics ,education - Abstract
Lassa fever is listed among the diseases that pose the greatest risks to public health by the World Health Organization. This severe viral hemorrhagic fever is caused by Lassa virus, a zoonotic pathogen that repeatedly spills over to humans from its rodent reservoirs. It is currently not known how climate change, transformations in land use, and human population growth could affect the endemic area of this virus, currently limited to parts of West Africa. By exploring the environmental data associated with virus occurrence, we show how temperature, precipitation and the presence of pastures determine ecological suitability for virus circulation. We project that regions in Central and East Africa will likely become suitable for Lassa virus over the next decades and estimate that the total population living in areas suitable for Lassa virus may grow from about 100 million to 700 million by 2070. By analysing geotagged viral genomes, we find that in the event of Lassa virus being introduced into a new suitable region, its spread might remain spatially limited over the first decades. Our results highlight how the endemic area of Lassa virus may expand well beyond West Africa in the next decades due to human impact on the environment, putting hundreds of million more people at risk of infection.
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- 2021
24. Survivors of Ebola Virus Disease Develop Polyfunctional Antibody Responses
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Don Grant, Kristian G. Andersen, Todd J. Suscovich, Galit Alter, Mambu Momoh, Augustine Goba, John Demby Sandi, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Jessica N. Hartnett, Bronwyn M. Gunn, Marcus M. Karim, John S. Schieffelin, Robert F. Garry, Lansana Kanneh, and Vicky Roy
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Pathogenesis and Host Response ,0301 basic medicine ,innate immune effector function ,medicine.drug_class ,viruses ,Disease ,Antibodies, Viral ,medicine.disease_cause ,Monoclonal antibody ,Subclass ,Sierra Leone ,Sierra leone ,Major Articles and Brief Reports ,Ebola virus ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Phagocytosis ,antibody ,medicine ,Humans ,Immunology and Allergy ,Survivors ,Antigens, Viral ,Innate immune system ,biology ,business.industry ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,Isotype ,Virology ,Immunity, Innate ,Immunoglobulin A ,030104 developmental biology ,Infectious Diseases ,Immunoglobulin G ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,biology.protein ,Antibody ,business - Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies can mediate protection against Ebola virus (EBOV) infection through direct neutralization as well as through the recruitment of innate immune effector functions. However, the antibody functional response following survival of acute EBOV disease has not been well characterized. In this study, serum antibodies from Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors from Sierra Leone were profiled to capture variation in overall subclass/isotype abundance, neutralizing activity, and innate immune effector functions. Antibodies from EVD survivors exhibited robust innate immune effector functions, mediated primarily by IgG1 and IgA1. In conclusion, development of functional antibodies follows survival of acute EVD., The humoral immune response in human survivors of Ebola virus disease includes the development of neutralizing antibodies and polyfunctional IgG1 and IgA antibodies that can mediate effector functions against the Ebola virus glycoprotein via multiple innate immune effector cell types.
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- 2019
25. Genomic Analysis of Lassa Virus during an Increase in Cases in Nigeria in 2018
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Chikwe Ihekweazu, Bridget Chak, Tolulope Kayode, Peter O Okokhere, Rickey R. Shah, James Qu, Amy Gaye, Patrick Brehio, Judith U. Oguzie, Grace Okonofua, Samar B. Mehta, Daniel J. Park, John Aiyepada, Ekene B. Muoebonam, Onikepe A. Folarin, Patience Akhilomen, Michael Airende, Shirlee Wohl, Sarah M. Winnicki, Sylvanus Okogbenin, Bronwyn MacInnis, George O. Akpede, Paul E. Oluniyi, Dylan Kotliar, Mahan Nekoui, Ikponmwosa Odia, Katherine J. Siddle, Christopher Ojemiega Iruolagbe, Stephen F. Schaffner, Benevolence Ebo, Pardis C. Sabeti, Fehintola V. Ajogbasile, Jessica N. Uwanibe, Philomena Eromon, Christian T. Happi, Rachael Enigbe, Blessing Osiemi, Adrianne Gladden-Young, Iguosadolo Nosamiefan, Oyewale Tomori, Kayla G. Barnes, Mambu Momoh, Robert F. Garry, Kristian G. Andersen, Eghosa Uyigue, Catherine A. Freije, Simon Ye, Omigie Omoregie, Amber Carter, Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovon, and Nathan L. Yozwiak
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Adult ,Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Disease reservoir ,Adolescent ,viruses ,Nigeria ,Rodentia ,Genome, Viral ,medicine.disease_cause ,03 medical and health sciences ,Lassa Fever ,Phylogenetics ,Zoonoses ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Lassa virus ,Lassa fever ,Phylogeny ,Rodent populations ,Disease Reservoirs ,Sequence Analysis, RNA ,Transmission (medicine) ,business.industry ,virus diseases ,Genetic Variation ,International health ,Bayes Theorem ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,Disease control ,Markov Chains ,3. Good health ,Phylogeography ,030104 developmental biology ,RNA, Viral ,Female ,business ,Research Article - Abstract
Summary During 2018, an unusual increase in Lassa fever cases occurred in Nigeria, raising concern among national and international public health agencies. We analyzed 220 Lassa virus genomes from infected patients, including 129 from the 2017–2018 transmission season, to understand the viral populations underpinning the increase. A total of 14 initial genomes from 2018 samples were generated at Redeemer’s University in Nigeria, and the findings were shared with the Nigerian Center for Disease Control in real time. We found that the increase in cases was not attributable to a particular Lassa virus strain or sustained by human-to-human transmission. Instead, the data were consistent with ongoing cross-species transmission from local rodent populations. Phylogenetic analysis also revealed extensive viral diversity that was structured according to geography, with major rivers appearing to act as barriers to migration of the rodent reservoir.
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- 2018
26. Deployable CRISPR-Cas13a diagnostic tools to detect and report Ebola and Lassa virus cases in real-time
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Brett Beitzel, Don Grant, Kayla G. Barnes, Mihret F. Amare, Robert F. Garry, Testimony J. Olumade, Christian T. Happi, Aaron E. Lin, Chloe K. Boehm, Michael Iroezindu, Robin Gross, Ikponmwosa Odia, Fehintola V. Ajogbasile, Hayden C. Metsky, Samar B. Mehta, Anna E. Lachenauer, Kayvon Modjarrad, Katherine J. Siddle, Luís C. Branco, Pardis C. Sabeti, Gustavo Palacios, Jessica N. Uwanibe, Sameed Siddiqui, Zahra Parker, Brian M. Sullivan, Abdulwasiu B. Tiamiyu, Lisa E. Hensley, Daniel J. Park, Matthew L. Boisen, Stephen F. Schaffner, Cameron Myhrvold, John Demby Sandi, Mambu Momoh, Catherine A. Freije, Amber Carter, Andrés Colubri, Bonnie Dighero-Kemp, Adam Nitido, and Molly Kemball
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0301 basic medicine ,CRISPR-Cas systems ,Science ,viruses ,General Physics and Astronomy ,02 engineering and technology ,Diagnostic tools ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antibodies, Viral ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,Article ,Sierra leone ,03 medical and health sciences ,Lassa Fever ,Virology ,medicine ,CRISPR ,Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats ,lcsh:Science ,Lassa fever ,Lassa virus ,Multidisciplinary ,Ebola virus ,business.industry ,virus diseases ,Outbreak ,General Chemistry ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,medicine.disease ,Ebolavirus ,Hemorrhagic Fevers ,030104 developmental biology ,Viral infection ,lcsh:Q ,0210 nano-technology ,business - Abstract
Recent outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), including Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Lassa fever (LF), highlight the urgent need for sensitive, deployable tests to diagnose these devastating human diseases. Here we develop CRISPR-Cas13a-based (SHERLOCK) diagnostics targeting Ebola virus (EBOV) and Lassa virus (LASV), with both fluorescent and lateral flow readouts. We demonstrate on laboratory and clinical samples the sensitivity of these assays and the capacity of the SHERLOCK platform to handle virus-specific diagnostic challenges. We perform safety testing to demonstrate the efficacy of our HUDSON protocol in heat-inactivating VHF viruses before SHERLOCK testing, eliminating the need for an extraction. We develop a user-friendly protocol and mobile application (HandLens) to report results, facilitating SHERLOCK’s use in endemic regions. Finally, we successfully deploy our tests in Sierra Leone and Nigeria in response to recent outbreaks., Outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers highlight the need for sensitive, field-deployable diagnostics. Here the authors present a CRISPR-based SHERLOCK platform with field protocol and mobile app for Ebola and Lassa fever outbreaks.
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- 2020
27. Identification of Common CD8 + T Cell Epitopes from Lassa Fever Survivors in Nigeria and Sierra Leone
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Christian T. Happi, Beatrice Cubitt, Karthik Gangavarapu, Brian M. Sullivan, Peter O. Okokhere, Onikepe A. Folarin, Brian C. Ware, Saori Sakabe, Pardis C. Sabeti, Nhi Ngo, Jessica N. Hartnett, Sylvanus Okogbenin, Juan Carlos de la Torre, Luis M. Branco, Ikponmwosa Odia, Donald S. Grant, Philomena Eromon, John S. Schieffelin, Augustine Goba, John Demby Sandi, Refugio Robles-Sikisaka, Mambu Momoh, Kristian G. Andersen, Dylan Kotliar, Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovon, Selma D. Garcia, Robert F. Garry, Lansana Kanneh, and Michael B. A. Oldstone
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Male ,viruses ,Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ,CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,Antibodies, Viral ,medicine.disease_cause ,Epitope ,0302 clinical medicine ,Viral Envelope Proteins ,Genes, Reporter ,Cytotoxic T cell ,Survivors ,arenavirus ,Child ,Lassa fever ,Antigens, Viral ,0303 health sciences ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Host-Pathogen Interactions ,Female ,Adolescent ,T cell ,Green Fluorescent Proteins ,Immunology ,Nigeria ,Biology ,Microbiology ,Sierra Leone ,Sierra leone ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Lassa Fever ,memory T cells ,HLA-DQ Antigens ,Virology ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Amino Acid Sequence ,Lassa virus ,030304 developmental biology ,Arenavirus ,Immune Sera ,epitopes ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Nucleoproteins ,Haplotypes ,Insect Science ,Pathogenesis and Immunity ,Immunologic Memory ,CD8 - Abstract
The high morbidity and mortality associated with clinical cases of Lassa fever, together with the lack of licensed vaccines and limited and partially effective interventions, make Lassa virus (LASV) an important health concern in its regions of endemicity in West Africa. Previous infection with LASV protects from disease after subsequent exposure, providing a framework for designing vaccines to elicit similar protective immunity. Multiple major lineages of LASV circulate in West Africa, and therefore, ideal vaccine candidates should elicit immunity to all lineages. We therefore sought to identify common T cell epitopes between Lassa fever survivors from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, where distinct lineages circulate. We identified three such epitopes derived from highly conserved regions within LASV proteins. In this process, we also identified nine other T cell epitopes. These data should help in the design of an effective pan-LASV vaccine., Early and robust T cell responses have been associated with survival from Lassa fever (LF), but the Lassa virus-specific memory responses have not been well characterized. Regions within the virus surface glycoprotein (GPC) and nucleoprotein (NP) are the main targets of the Lassa virus-specific T cell responses, but, to date, only a few T cell epitopes within these proteins have been identified. We identified GPC and NP regions containing T cell epitopes and HLA haplotypes from LF survivors and used predictive HLA-binding algorithms to identify putative epitopes, which were then experimentally tested using autologous survivor samples. We identified 12 CD8-positive (CD8+) T cell epitopes, including epitopes common to both Nigerian and Sierra Leonean survivors. These data should be useful for the identification of dominant Lassa virus-specific T cell responses in Lassa fever survivors and vaccinated individuals as well as for designing vaccines that elicit cell-mediated immunity. IMPORTANCE The high morbidity and mortality associated with clinical cases of Lassa fever, together with the lack of licensed vaccines and limited and partially effective interventions, make Lassa virus (LASV) an important health concern in its regions of endemicity in West Africa. Previous infection with LASV protects from disease after subsequent exposure, providing a framework for designing vaccines to elicit similar protective immunity. Multiple major lineages of LASV circulate in West Africa, and therefore, ideal vaccine candidates should elicit immunity to all lineages. We therefore sought to identify common T cell epitopes between Lassa fever survivors from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, where distinct lineages circulate. We identified three such epitopes derived from highly conserved regions within LASV proteins. In this process, we also identified nine other T cell epitopes. These data should help in the design of an effective pan-LASV vaccine.
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- 2020
28. Deployable CRISPR-Cas13a diagnostic tools to detect and report Ebola and Lassa virus cases in real-time
- Author
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John Demby Sandi, Michael Iroezindu, Chloe K. Boehm, Brett Beitzel, Don Grant, Kayla G. Barnes, Christian T. Happi, Fehintola V. Ajogbasile, Stephen F. Schaffner, Andrés Colubri, Samar B. Mehta, Hayden C. Metsky, Zahra Parker, Luís C. Branco, Bonnie Dighero-Kemp, Mihret F. Amare, Adam Nitido, Matthew L. Boisen, Molly Kemball, Mambu Momoh, Abdulwasiu B. Tiamiyu, Robert F. Garry, Catherine A. Freije, Gustavo Palacios, Daniel J. Park, Katherine J. Siddle, Sameed Siddiqui, Amber Carter, Pardis C. Sabeti, Ikponmwosa Odia, Jessica N. Uwanibe, Anna E. Lachenauer, Testimony J. Olumade, Robin Gross, Aaron E. Lin, Lisa E. Hensley, Kayvon Modjarrad, Brian M. Sullivan, and Cameron Myhrvold
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Ebola virus ,Attenuated vaccine ,business.industry ,viruses ,medicine.disease ,medicine.disease_cause ,Diagnostic tools ,Virology ,Sierra leone ,Hemorrhagic Fevers ,Lassa virus ,medicine ,CRISPR ,Lassa fever ,business - Abstract
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) remain some of the most devastating human diseases, and recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) 1,2 and Lassa fever (LF) 3,4 highlight the urgent need for sensitive, field-deployable tests to diagnose them 5,6. Here we develop CRISPR-Cas13a-based (SHERLOCK) diagnostics targeting Ebola virus (EBOV) and Lassa virus (LASV), with both fluorescent and lateral flow readouts. We demonstrate on laboratory and clinical samples the sensitivity of these assays and the capacity of the SHERLOCK platform to handle virus-specific diagnostic challenges. Our EBOV diagnostic detects both the L and NP genes, thereby eliminating the potential for false positive results caused by the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP live attenuated vaccine. Our two LASV diagnostics together capture 90% of known viral diversity and demonstrate that CRISPR-RNAs (crRNAs) can be effectively multiplexed to provide greater coverage of known viral diversity. We performed safety testing to demonstrate the efficacy of our HUDSON protocol in heat-inactivating and chemically treating VHF viruses before SHERLOCK testing, eliminating the need for an extraction. We developed a user-friendly field protocol and mobile application (HandLens) to report results, facilitating SHERLOCK’s use in endemic regions. Finally, we successfully deployed our tests in Sierra Leone and Nigeria in response to recent outbreaks.
- Published
- 2020
29. Ebola-Specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T-Cell Responses in Sierra Leonean Ebola Virus Survivors With or Without Post-Ebola Sequelae
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K. Michael Pollard, Donald S. Grant, Kayla Shore, Michael B. A. Oldstone, Luis M. Branco, Robert F. Garry, Augustine Goba, Jessica M Mayeux, Mambu Momoh, John Demby Sandi, Mohamed Yilah, Lansana Kanneh, John S. Schieffelin, Matthew L. Boisen, Saori Sakabe, Foday Al-Hassan, Stephanie LaVergne, Juan Carlos de la Torre, Iris Bica, Michael Gbakie, Ashley A. Smira, Brian M Sullivan, and Beatrice Cubitt
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Adult ,CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,Male ,Anti-nuclear antibody ,Fluorescent Antibody Technique ,CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antibodies, Viral ,Immunoglobulin G ,Sierra Leone ,Major Articles and Brief Reports ,Immune system ,Antigen ,Immunology and Allergy ,Medicine ,Rheumatoid factor ,Humans ,Survivors ,Antigens, Viral ,Immunity, Cellular ,Ebola virus ,biology ,business.industry ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,biology.organism_classification ,Ebolavirus ,Infectious Diseases ,Vesicular stomatitis virus ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,Female ,Antibody ,business - Abstract
BackgroundEbola virus (EBOV) disease has killed thousands of West and Central Africans over the past several decades. Many who survive the acute disease later experience post-Ebola syndrome, a constellation of symptoms whose causative pathogenesis is unclear.MethodsWe investigated EBOV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses in 37 Sierra Leonean EBOV disease survivors with (n = 19) or without (n = 18) sequelae of arthralgia and ocular symptoms. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were infected with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus encoding EBOV antigens. We also studied the presence of EBOV-specific immunoglobulin G, antinuclear antibodies, anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, rheumatoid factor, complement levels, and cytokine levels in these 2 groups.ResultsSurvivors with sequelae had a significantly higher EBOV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell response. No differences in EBOV-specific immunoglobulin G, antinuclear antibody, or anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody levels were found. Survivors with sequelae showed significantly higher rheumatoid factor levels.ConclusionEBOV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses were significantly higher in Ebola survivors with post-Ebola syndrome. These findings suggest that pathogenesis may occur as an immune-mediated disease via virus-specific T-cell immune response or that persistent antigen exposure leads to increased and sustained T-cell responses.
- Published
- 2020
30. A Fc engineering approach to define functional humoral correlates of immunity against Ebola virus
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Robert F. Garry, Sharon L. Schendel, Mambu Momoh, Bronwyn M. Gunn, Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Galit Alter, Augustine Goba, Jiyoung Kim, Richard Lu, John S. Schieffelin, Lansana Kanneh, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Kai Huang, Matthew D. Slein, Kristian G. Andersen, Don Grant, Matthias Pauthner, Todd J. Suscovich, Vicky Roy, Caitlin Cain, Ayato Takada, Peter Halfmann, Philipp A. Ilinykh, Alexander Bukreyev, and Caroline Atyeo
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0301 basic medicine ,medicine.drug_class ,Immunology ,Disease ,Receptors, Fc ,medicine.disease_cause ,Monoclonal antibody ,Antibodies, Viral ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments ,0302 clinical medicine ,In vivo ,Immunity ,medicine ,Immunology and Allergy ,Animals ,Humans ,Neutralizing antibody ,Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity ,Mice, Inbred BALB C ,Innate immune system ,Ebola virus ,biology ,Effector ,Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Ebolavirus ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments ,030104 developmental biology ,Infectious Diseases ,HEK293 Cells ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Immunoglobulin G ,Humoral immunity ,Antibody Formation ,biology.protein ,Female ,Antibody - Abstract
Summary Protective Ebola virus (EBOV) antibodies have neutralizing activity and induction of antibody constant domain (Fc)-mediated innate immune effector functions. Efforts to enhance Fc effector functionality often focus on maximizing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, yet distinct combinations of functions could be critical for antibody-mediated protection. As neutralizing antibodies have been cloned from EBOV disease survivors, we sought to identify survivor Fc effector profiles to help guide Fc optimization strategies. Survivors developed a range of functional antibody responses, and we therefore applied a rapid, high-throughput Fc engineering platform to define the most protective profiles. We generated a library of Fc variants with identical antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) from an EBOV neutralizing antibody. Fc variants with antibody-mediated complement deposition and moderate natural killer (NK) cell activity demonstrated complete protective activity in a stringent in vivo mouse model. Our findings highlight the importance of specific effector functions in antibody-mediated protection, and the experimental platform presents a generalizable resource for identifying correlates of immunity to guide therapeutic antibody design.
- Published
- 2020
31. Ebola Virus Persistence in Ocular Tissues and Fluids (EVICT) Study: Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction and Cataract Surgery Outcomes of Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone☆
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Moges Teshome, Gustavo Palacios, Joyce Chang, Sina Bavari, Nisha R. Acharya, John G. Mattia, Steven Yeh, Colleen S. Kraft, Adrienne K. Chan, Timothy M. Uyeki, Simbirie Jalloh, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Kerry Dierberg, Roger Reiners, Erick Kaluma, Mambu Momoh, Lowell A. Gess, Faiqa K. Ebrahim, John S. Schieffelin, Robert F. Garry, Jessica N. Hartnett, Sarian Kamara, Mohamed Mansaray, Jessica G. Shantha, Kwame O’Neill, Tim O'Dempsey, Kayla G. Barnes, Matthew J. Vandy, Paul Farmer, William J. Liu, Daniel G. Bausch, Alie H. Wurie, Melanie Reiners, Rob Fowler, Ian Crozier, Sharmistha Mishra, Augustine Goba, Brent Hayek, Taylor Hendricks, John Demby Sandi, and Donald S. Grant
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Visual acuity ,genetic structures ,medicine.medical_treatment ,media_common.quotation_subject ,lcsh:Medicine ,Ebola virus disease ,medicine.disease_cause ,Global Health ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,Cataract ,Sierra leone ,Uveitis ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Interquartile range ,Ophthalmology ,medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Eye surgery ,media_common ,lcsh:R5-920 ,Ebola virus ,business.industry ,Convalescence ,lcsh:R ,General Medicine ,Cataract surgery ,medicine.disease ,Ebolavirus ,eye diseases ,3. Good health ,030221 ophthalmology & optometry ,sense organs ,medicine.symptom ,business ,lcsh:Medicine (General) ,Research Paper - Abstract
Background Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors are at risk for uveitis during convalescence. Vision loss has been observed following uveitis due to cataracts. Since Ebola virus (EBOV) may persist in the ocular fluid of EVD survivors for an unknown duration, there are questions about the safety and feasibility of vision restorative cataract surgery in EVD survivors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of EVD survivors anticipating cataract surgery and patients with active uveitis to evaluate EBOV RNA persistence in ocular fluid, as well as vision outcomes post cataract surgery. Patients with aqueous humor that tested negative for EBOV RNA were eligible to proceed with manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS). Findings We screened 137 EVD survivors from June 2016 – August 2017 for enrolment. We enrolled 50 EVD survivors; 46 with visually significant cataract, 1 with a subluxated lens, 2 with active uveitis and 1 with a blind painful eye due to uveitis. The median age was 24.0 years (IQR 17–35) and 35 patients (70%) were female. The median logMAR visual acuity (VA) was 3.0 (Snellen VA Hand motions; Interquartile Range, IQR: 1.2-3.0, Snellen VA 20/320 – Hand motions). All patients tested negative for EBOV RNA by RT-PCR in aqueous humor/vitreous fluid and conjunctiva at a median of 19 months (IQR 18-20) from EVD diagnosis in Phase 1 of ocular fluid sampling and 34 months (IQR 32-36) from EVD diagnosis in Phase 2 of ocular fluid sampling. Thirty-four patients underwent MSICS, with a preoperative median VA improvement from hand motions to 20/30 at three-month postoperative follow-up (P, Highlights • Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors are at-risk for severe vision impairment due to uveitis and subsequent cataract development. • Fifty EVD survivors underwent ocular fluid sampling and tested negative for Ebola virus by RT-PCR. • Thirty-four survivors underwent cataract surgery with excellent safety measures and vision restorative outcomes. Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors are at high risk for uveitis, an inflammatory condition affecting the eye that may lead to severe vision impairment, often from cataract. Because persistent Ebola virus (EBOV) has been identified within the immune privileged eye, understanding the prevalence of intraocular EBOV persistence is significant for patients, providers, and public health policy. In this study, 50 EVD survivors tested negative for EBOV by RT-PCR of their intraocular fluid. Thirty-four underwent cataract surgery with vision restorative outcomes. These findings improve our ability to impact vision care and quality-of-life for thousands of EVD survivors at-risk for eye disease.
- Published
- 2018
32. The Origins and Future of Sentinel: An Early-Warning System for Pandemic Preemption and Response
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John Aiyepada, Michael Gbakie, Sameed Siddiqui, Hayden C. Metsky, Foday Alhasan, Johnson C. Okolie, Amber Carter, Bronwyn MacInnis, Christopher Tomkins-Tinch, Airende Michael, Marzieh Ezzaty Mirhashemi, Parvathy Nair, A.R. Ndiaye, D. Asogun, Daniel J. Park, Siham Elhamoumi, Awa B. Deme, Adrianne Gladden-Young, Brittany A. Petros, Omigie Omoregie, Alan Ricks, Dolo Nosamiefan, Luis M. Branco, Amy Gaye, Kayla G. Barnes, Adeyemi T. Kayode, Osiemi Blessing, Yolanda Botti-Lodovico, Michael J Butts, Jonathan Jackson, Augustine Goba, Nell G Bond, Christian T. Happi, Anika Vinze, Erica Normandin, Ben Fry, Chinedu A Ugwu, Okonofua Grace Naregose, Katherine C. DeRuff, Matthew R. Bauer, Peter O. Okokhere, Robert F. Garry, Andrés Colubri, Megan E. Vodzak, Matthew Stremlau, Anne W. Rimoin, Philomena Eromon, Samar Mehta, Daba Zoumarou, Oyewale Tomori, John Demby Sandi, Haja Isatta Wurie, Aida Sadikh Badiane, Tolla Ndiaye, Mouhamad Sy, Sylvanus Okogbenin, Veronica J. Koroma, Allison R. Smither, Mambu Momoh, Abechi Priscilla, Emily J Engel, Paul E. Oluniyi, Judith U. Oguzie, Donald S. Grant, Molly Kemball, Anthony A. Philippakis, Idowu B. Olawoye, Katherine Siddle, Monica Schreiber, Chloe K. Boehm, Mary Houghton, Dada Ireti Victoria, Testimony J. Olumade, Younousse Diédhiou, Fehintola V. Ajogbasile, Mariétou Faye Paye, Ebo Ohomoime Benevolence, Antoinette R. Bell-Kareem, Ikponmwosa Odia, Daouda Ndiaye, Pardis C. Sabeti, Jessica N. Uwanibe, Mame Cheikh Seck, Oladele Oluwafemi Ayodeji, Kayvon Modjarrad, Kristian G. Andersen, Jeremy A. Johnson, Ngayo Sy, Sahr M. Gevao, Dylan Kotliar, Akhilomen Patience Edamhande, Stephen F. Schaffner, Anise N Happi, George O. Akpede, Simbirie Jalloh, Matthew L. Boisen, Muoebonam Ekene Benard, Sebastian V Agignoae, Nicole L. Welch, Ojide Chiedozie Kingsley, Mouhamadou Mansour Ndiaye, Gabrielle Gionet, Lansana Kanneh, Onikepe A. Folarin, Eghosasere Anthonia Uyigue, Jules F. Gomis, Chikwe Ihekwuazu, Mosoka Fallah, John S. Schieffelin, Cameron Myhrvold, and Christopher Ojemiega Iruolagbe
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,History ,infectious disease ,Population ,Preemption ,Nigeria ,Disaster Planning ,LARGE ,N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases ,medicine.disease_cause ,Microbiology ,Article ,diagnostic tools ,pandemic preemption ,pandemic response ,Virology ,Pandemic ,medicine ,Humans ,Lassa virus ,education ,Lassa fever ,Pandemics ,education.field_of_study ,Polymorphism, Genetic ,business.industry ,Public health ,bioinformatics ,Public relations ,medicine.disease ,QR1-502 ,genomic surveillance ,Africa, Western ,Infectious Diseases ,Infectious disease (medical specialty) ,Ebola ,Receptors, Virus ,Early warning system ,business - Abstract
While investigating a signal of adaptive evolution in humans at the gene LARGE, we encountered an intriguing finding by Dr. Stefan Kunz that the gene plays a critical role in Lassa virus binding and entry. This led us to pursue field work to test our hypothesis that natural selection acting on LARGE—detected in the Yoruba population of Nigeria—conferred resistance to Lassa Fever in some West African populations. As we delved further, we conjectured that the “emerging” nature of recently discovered diseases like Lassa fever is related to a newfound capacity for detection, rather than a novel viral presence, and that humans have in fact been exposed to the viruses that cause such diseases for much longer than previously suspected. Dr. Stefan Kunz’s critical efforts not only laid the groundwork for this discovery, but also inspired and catalyzed a series of events that birthed Sentinel, an ambitious and large-scale pandemic prevention effort in West Africa. Sentinel aims to detect and characterize deadly pathogens before they spread across the globe, through implementation of its three fundamental pillars: Detect, Connect, and Empower. More specifically, Sentinel is designed to detect known and novel infections rapidly, connect and share information in real time to identify emerging threats, and empower the public health community to improve pandemic preparedness and response anywhere in the world. We are proud to dedicate this work to Stefan Kunz, and eagerly invite new collaborators, experts, and others to join us in our efforts.
- Published
- 2021
33. Human-monoclonal-antibody therapy protects nonhuman primates against advanced Lassa fever
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Karla A. Fenton, Megan L. Heinrich, Donald S. Grant, Robert F. Garry, Mathew L Boisen, Mohamed Fullah, Viktoriya Borisevich, Mambu Momoh, Sheik Humarr Khan, Luis M. Branco, Robert W. Cross, Megan M. Rowland, Thomas W. Geisbert, Chad E. Mire, Daniel J. Deer, James E. Robinson, Augustine Goba, Krystle N. Agans, and Joan B. Geisbert
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,medicine.drug_class ,viruses ,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ,Cross Reactions ,Biology ,Antibodies, Viral ,Monoclonal antibody ,medicine.disease_cause ,Article ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,West africa ,Random Allocation ,03 medical and health sciences ,Lassa Fever ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Lassa virus ,Lassa fever ,Monoclonal antibody therapy ,Immune Evasion ,Advanced stage ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,virus diseases ,General Medicine ,Viral Load ,medicine.disease ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,Immunohistochemistry ,Virology ,Survival Rate ,Macaca fascicularis ,030104 developmental biology ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,RNA, Viral ,Antibody ,Viral load - Abstract
There are no approved treatments for Lassa fever, which is endemic to the same regions of West Africa that were recently devastated by Ebola. Here we show that a combination of human monoclonal antibodies that cross-react with the glycoproteins of all four clades of Lassa virus is able to rescue 100% of cynomolgus macaques when treatment is initiated at advanced stages of disease, including up to 8 d after challenge.
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- 2017
34. Data set on Lassa fever in post-conflict Sierra Leone
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Robert F. Garry, Danielle C Levy, Luis M. Branco, Lansana Kanneh, Don Grant, John S. Schieffelin, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Matthew L. Boisen, Jessica N. Hartnett, Augustine Goba, and Mambu Momoh
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Epidemiology ,viruses ,lcsh:Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics ,Sierra leone ,Sierra Leone ,Post conflict ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Biosafety level ,medicine ,lcsh:Science (General) ,Lassa fever ,030304 developmental biology ,0303 health sciences ,Infectious disease ,Multidisciplinary ,Ribavirin ,Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ,virus diseases ,Medicine and Dentistry ,medicine.disease ,Geography ,chemistry ,Neglected tropical diseases ,lcsh:R858-859.7 ,Serostatus ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,lcsh:Q1-390 ,Demography - Abstract
Lassa fever is a rodent-borne illness that is endemic to parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Guinea. The disease is named after the town of Lassa, Nigeria where it was discovered in 1969. This data article focuses on the epidemiology of Lassa fever in Sierra Leone following a decade-long civil war that ended in 2002. The data were collected at Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) in Kenema, Sierra Leone, which maintains the country׳s only Lassa fever treatment facility and a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory. The key data set variables include Lassa fever serostatus determined using antigen (Ag), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISA diagnostic techniques; and patient demographics, survival outcome, and treatment (ribavirin) status. The individual data used to generate the graphs and tables in the corresponding research manuscript published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2014 and its coding guide are provided as Supplementary material (Shaffer et al., 2014) [1]. Keywords: Infectious disease, Lassa fever, Epidemiology, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Sierra Leone
- Published
- 2019
35. Treatment of Lassa virus infection in outbred guinea pigs with first-in-class human monoclonal antibodies
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James E. Robinson, Robert W. Cross, Mambu Momoh, Megan L. Heinrich, Chad E. Mire, Thomas W. Geisbert, Robert F. Garry, Donald S. Grant, Luis M. Branco, Mohamed Fullah, Joan B. Geisbert, Augustine Goba, Megan M. Rowland, and Sheik Humarr Khan
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,medicine.drug_class ,viruses ,Guinea Pigs ,Biology ,Antibodies, Viral ,Monoclonal antibody ,medicine.disease_cause ,Article ,Neutralization ,Guinea pig ,Inhibitory Concentration 50 ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Lassa Fever ,0302 clinical medicine ,Neutralization Tests ,Virology ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Lassa virus ,Lassa fever ,Pharmacology ,Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ,Ribavirin ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,virus diseases ,medicine.disease ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,3. Good health ,Disease Models, Animal ,030104 developmental biology ,chemistry ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,Antiviral drug ,Antibody - Abstract
Lassa fever is a significant health threat to West African human populations with hundreds of thousands of annual cases. There are no approved medical countermeasures currently available. Compassionate use of the antiviral drug ribavirin or transfusion of convalescent serum has resulted in mixed success depending on when administered or the donor source, respectively. We previously identified several recombinant human monoclonal antibodies targeting the glycoprotein of Lassa virus with strong neutralization profiles in vitro. Here, we demonstrate remarkable therapeutic efficacy using first-in-class human antibodies in a guinea pig model of Lassa infection thereby presenting a promising treatment alternative.
- Published
- 2016
36. Field Validation of the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test for Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Ebola Virus Infection
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Matthew L. Boisen, Robert W. Cross, Jessica N. Hartnett, Augustine Goba, Mambu Momoh, Mohamed Fullah, Michael Gbakie, Sidiki Safa, Mbalu Fonnie, Francis Baimba, Veronica J. Koroma, Joan B. Geisbert, Stephanie McCormick, Diana K. S. Nelson, Molly M. Millett, Darin Oottamasathien, Abby B. Jones, Ha Pham, Bethany L. Brown, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, John S. Schieffelin, Brima Kargbo, Momoh Gbetuwa, Sahr M. Gevao, Russell B. Wilson, Kelly R. Pitts, Thomas W. Geisbert, Luis M. Branco, Sheik H. Khan, Donald S. Grant, and Robert F. Garry
- Subjects
Immunoassay ,Ebola Outbreak in West Africa ,Point-of-Care Systems ,030231 tropical medicine ,Reproducibility of Results ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Ebolavirus ,Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Hospitals ,Sierra Leone ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Infectious Diseases ,Humans ,RNA, Viral ,Immunology and Allergy ,Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Antigens, Viral - Abstract
The 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic is the largest recorded. Triage on the basis of clinical signs had limited success, and the time to diagnosis by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) could exceed 5 days. Here we describe the development and field validation of the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test (ReEBOV RDT) to aid triage of individuals with suspected EVD.Samples from patients with suspected EVD were submitted to Kenema Government Hospital, Sierra Leone, for Lassa fever and EVD screening throughout 2014. Banked residual clinical samples were tested in November 2014 and January 2015 in a blinded field trial to estimate the clinical effectiveness of the ReEBOV RDT, compared with EBOV-specific qRT-PCR.Preliminary ReEBOV RDT performance demonstrated a positive percentage agreement (PPA) of 91.1% (195 of 214 results; 95% confidence interval [CI], 86.5%-94.6%) and a negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 90.2% (175 of 194; 95% CI, 85.1%-94.0%). The final estimates used by the Food and Drug Administration to determine whether to grant emergency use authorization for the test, which excluded a qRT-PCR reference method threshold cutoff, were a PPA of 62.1% (72 of 116 results; 95% CI, 52.6%-70.9%) and a NPA of 96.7% (58 of 60; 95% CI, 88.5%-99.6%), with a diagnostic likelihood of 18.6. A subsequent, independent evaluation by the World Health Organization generated results consistent with the preliminary performance estimates.The ReEBOV RDT demonstrated the potential to provide clinically effective rapid and accurate point-of-care test results and, thus, to be a powerful tool for increasing triage efficiency.
- Published
- 2016
37. An Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the Lassa Fever Zone
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Rachael E. Yenni, Augustine Goba, Stephanie J. McCormick, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Brima Kargbo, John Demby Sandi, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Robert F. Garry, Susan McLellan, Julie A. Rouelle, Edwin Konowu, Sonia Grillo, Issa French, Benjamin T. Bradley, Ibraham Mustapha, S. Humarr Khan, Vandi Sinnah, Shevin T. Jacob, Russell B. Wilson, Veronica J. Koroma, Josephine Sellu, Christian T. Happi, Momoh Foday, Helena McCarthy, Kelly R. Pitts, Peter C. Kulakosky, Jessica N. Hartnett, Mohamed Yillah, Nathan L. Yozwiak, Daniel J. Park, James E. Robinson, Christopher M. Bishop, Donald S. Grant, Siddiki Safai, Sylvia O. Blyden, James L. B. Massaly, Alex Moigboi, Matthew L. Boisen, Tiangay Kallon, Sahr M. Gevao, Joan B. Geisbert, Ian Crozier, Thomas W. Geisbert, Mustupha Kallon, Chandrika B. Kannadka, Ashley A. Reyna, Hawa Rogers, Haini Yu, Mbalu Fonnie, Mohamed Fullah, Courtney E Garry, Lansana Kanneh, John S. Schieffelin, Alice Kovoma, Allyson M. Haislip, Lilia I. Melnik, Luis M. Branco, David Kargbo, Pardis C. Sabeti, Jing He, Kristian G. Andersen, Fatima K. Kamara, Michael Gbakie, Mambu Momoh, Mohamed A. Vandi, Stephen K. Gire, Deborah H. Elliott, Franklyn Kanneh, Simbirie Jalloh, Ridhi Tariyal, Nancy Yoko, Kathryn M. Hastie, William R. Gallaher, Lee A. Henderson, Robert W. Cross, Brian M. Sullivan, Momoh Gbetuwa, Scott Oman, Donna Edwards, Jenneh Naiebu, Abdul A. Jalloh, Danny Asogun, Michael B. A. Oldstone, and William C. Wimley
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Adolescent ,viruses ,Genome, Viral ,medicine.disease_cause ,Disease Outbreaks ,Sierra Leone ,Sierra leone ,Viral hemorrhagic fever ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Lassa Fever ,0302 clinical medicine ,Humans ,Immunology and Allergy ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Child ,Lassa virus ,Lassa fever ,Ebolavirus ,Ebola Outbreak in West Africa ,Ebola virus ,business.industry ,Transmission (medicine) ,Outbreak ,Genomics ,Sequence Analysis, DNA ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,Africa, Western ,030104 developmental biology ,Infectious Diseases ,Child, Preschool ,Epidemiological Monitoring ,Female ,Guinea ,Medical emergency ,business - Abstract
Background.Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) has developed an advanced clinical and laboratory research capacity to manage the threat of Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). The 2013–2016 Ebola virus (EBOV) disease (EVD) outbreak is the first to have occurred in an area close to a facility with established clinical and laboratory capacity for study of VHFs. Methods.Because of its proximity to the epicenter of the EVD outbreak, which began in Guinea in March 2014, the KGH Lassa fever Team mobilized to establish EBOV surveillance and diagnostic capabilities. Results.Augustine Goba, director of the KGH Lassa laboratory, diagnosed the first documented case of EVD in Sierra Leone, on 25 May 2014. Thereafter, KGH received and cared for numbers of patients with EVD that quickly overwhelmed the capacity for safe management. Numerous healthcare workers contracted and lost their lives to EVD. The vast majority of subsequent EVD cases in West Africa can be traced back to a single transmission chain that includes this first diagnosed case. Conclusions.Responding to the challenges of confronting 2 hemorrhagic fever viruses will require continued investments in the development of countermeasures (vaccines, therapeutic agents, and diagnostic assays), infrastructure, and human resources.
- Published
- 2016
38. Most neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies target novel epitopes requiring both Lassa virus glycoprotein subunits
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Robert W. Cross, Matthew L. Boisen, Mambu Momoh, Megan L. Heinrich, Michelle Zandonatti, Michael Gbakie, Joan B. Geisbert, Simbirie Jalloh, Juan Carlos de la Torre, Chandrika B. Kannadka, Momoh Gbetuwa, Julie A. Rouelle, Onikepe A. Follarin, S. Humarr Khan, Ashley A. Smira, Mohamed Fullah, Benjamin T. Bradley, Richard Fonnie, Kathryn M. Hastie, Luis M. Branco, Russell B. Wilson, Veronica J. Koroma, Danny Asogun, Mohamed A. Vandi, Christian T. Happi, Megan M. Rowland, Benson Yee Hin Cheng, Robert F. Garry, Deborah H. Elliott, Augustine Goba, Pardis C. Sabeti, Kristian G. Andersen, Brima Kargbo, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, James E. Robinson, Peter C. Kulakoski, Kelly R. Pitts, Thomas W. Geisbert, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Donald S. Grant, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Peter O Okokhere, Odia Ikponmwosa, Lansana Kanneh, Courtney E Garry, Jessica N. Hartnett, John S. Schieffelin, Rachael E. Yenni, Sahr M. Gevao, and Haini Yu
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Models, Molecular ,medicine.drug_class ,viruses ,Science ,General Physics and Astronomy ,Cross Reactions ,Monoclonal antibody ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antibodies, Viral ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,Epitope ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,Epitopes ,Lassa Fever ,Viral Envelope Proteins ,Glycoprotein complex ,Antibody Specificity ,medicine ,Humans ,Lassa fever ,Lassa virus ,Antigens, Viral ,Sequence Deletion ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Multidisciplinary ,biology ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,virus diseases ,General Chemistry ,Arenavirus ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,3. Good health ,030104 developmental biology ,Epitope mapping ,chemistry ,biology.protein ,Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ,Antibody ,Glycoprotein ,Epitope Mapping - Abstract
Lassa fever is a severe multisystem disease that often has haemorrhagic manifestations. The epitopes of the Lassa virus (LASV) surface glycoproteins recognized by naturally infected human hosts have not been identified or characterized. Here we have cloned 113 human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for LASV glycoproteins from memory B cells of Lassa fever survivors from West Africa. One-half bind the GP2 fusion subunit, one-fourth recognize the GP1 receptor-binding subunit and the remaining fourth are specific for the assembled glycoprotein complex, requiring both GP1 and GP2 subunits for recognition. Notably, of the 16 mAbs that neutralize LASV, 13 require the assembled glycoprotein complex for binding, while the remaining 3 require GP1 only. Compared with non-neutralizing mAbs, neutralizing mAbs have higher binding affinities and greater divergence from germline progenitors. Some mAbs potently neutralize all four LASV lineages. These insights from LASV human mAb characterization will guide strategies for immunotherapeutic development and vaccine design., Lassa virus can cause haemorrhagic fever for which no specific treatment currently exists. Here the authors have cloned 113 monoclonal antibodies from the survivors of Lassa infection and show that the majority of neutralizing antibodies target a complex of GP1 and GP2 viral proteins.
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- 2016
39. Reevaluating HLA-A2-restricted Lassa epitopes in human Lassa fever survivors
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Brian Martin Sullivan, Saori Sakabe, Jessica N Hartnett, Nhi Nho, Augustine Goba, Mambu Momoh, John Demby Sandi, Lansana Kanneh, Beatrice Cubitt, Selma D Garcia, Brian C Ware, Dylan Kotliar, Refugio Robles-Sikisaka, Karthik Gangavarapu, Juan Carlos de la Torre, Pardis C Sabeti, Kristian G Andersen, Robert F Garry, Donald S Grant, John S Schieffelin, and Michael B Oldstone
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Immunology ,Immunology and Allergy - Abstract
Many factors contribute to the selection of epitope-specific T cells. Often, candidate epitopes are generated through in silico prediction of various biological processes, mainly peptide generation and MHC binding, that are then tested in relevant biological assays. This is especially true of epitopes derived from BSL-4 pathogens or where relevant patient samples are difficult to obtain. Two previous studies identified CD8+ T cell epitopes from the Lassa virus glycoprotein through in silico prediction, experimental MHC binding assays, and epitope generation in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Using samples from ten HLA-A*02:01 Lassa fever survivors, we tested whether these previously described epitope-specific CD8+ T cells were present and their relation to the broader Lassa virus-specific T cell response. Using overnight stimulation assays, we detected robust LASV-specific responses to the glycoprotein and nucleoprotein, but only one of the three epitopes (GP60–68)shown to be present and protective in mice made a substantial contribution to the overall LASV-specific response. Using a more sensitive proliferation assay, we detected the remaining two epitopes in some individuals at a very low frequency. Overall, this study shows the limitations of epitope discovery through in silico prediction, MHC binding and transgenic mouse models and highlights the complex nature of T cell selection during natural infection of humans.
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- 2020
40. A medical records and data capture and management system for Lassa fever in Sierra Leone: Approach, implementation, and challenges
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Jeffrey G Shaffer, John S Schieffelin, Michael Gbakie, Foday Alhasan, Nicole B Roberts, Augustine Goba, Jessica Randazzo, Mambu Momoh, Troy D Moon, Lansana Kanneh, Danielle C Levy, Rachel M Podgorski, Jessica N Hartnett, Matt L Boisen, Luis M Branco, Robert Samuels, Donald S Grant, Robert F Garry, and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium
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Viral Diseases ,Databases, Factual ,viruses ,Artificial Gene Amplification and Extension ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antibodies, Viral ,Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Medical Records ,Geographical locations ,Disease Outbreaks ,0302 clinical medicine ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Computer Networks ,Enzyme-Linked Immunoassays ,Lassa fever ,Data Management ,Multidisciplinary ,Medical record ,3. Good health ,Survival Rate ,Infectious Diseases ,Medicine ,RNA, Viral ,Medical emergency ,Information Technology ,Research Article ,Neglected Tropical Diseases ,Computer and Information Sciences ,Science ,030231 tropical medicine ,Research and Analysis Methods ,Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever ,Viral hemorrhagic fever ,Sierra leone ,Sierra Leone ,03 medical and health sciences ,Databases ,Lassa Fever ,medicine ,Humans ,Lassa virus ,Immunoassays ,Molecular Biology Techniques ,Molecular Biology ,Internet ,Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers ,Ebola virus ,business.industry ,Information Dissemination ,Outbreak ,Biology and Life Sciences ,medicine.disease ,Hospitals, District ,Tropical Diseases ,Blood chemistry ,Africa ,Immunologic Techniques ,People and places ,business ,Blood Chemical Analysis ,Software - Abstract
Situated in southeastern Sierra Leone, Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) maintains one of the world's only Lassa fever isolation wards and was a strategic Ebola virus disease (EVD) treatment facility during the 2014 EVD outbreak. Since 2006, the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium (VHFC) has carried out research activities at KGH, capturing clinical and laboratory data for suspected cases of Lassa fever. Here we describe the approach, progress, and challenges in designing and maintaining a data capture and management system (DCMS) at KGH to assist infectious disease researchers in building and sustaining DCMS in low-resource environments. Results on screening patterns and case-fatality rates are provided to illustrate the context and scope of the DCMS covered in this study. A medical records system and DCMS was designed and implemented between 2010 and 2016 linking historical and prospective Lassa fever data sources across KGH Lassa fever units and its peripheral health units. Data were captured using a case report form (CRF) system, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plate readers, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines, blood chemistry analyzers, and data auditing procedures. Between 2008 and 2016, blood samples for 4,229 suspected Lassa fever cases were screened at KGH, ranging from 219 samples in 2008 to a peak of 760 samples in 2011. Lassa fever case-fatality rates before and following the Ebola outbreak were 65.5% (148/226) and 89.5% (17/19), respectively, suggesting that fewer, but more seriously ill subjects with Lassa fever presented to KGH following the 2014 EVD outbreak (p = .040). DCMS challenges included weak specificity of the Lassa fever suspected case definition, limited capture of patient survival outcome data, internet costs, lapses in internet connectivity, low bandwidth, equipment and software maintenance, lack of computer teaching laboratories, and workload fluctuations due to variable screening activity. DCMS are the backbone of international research efforts and additional literature is needed on the topic for establishing benchmarks and driving goal-based approaches for its advancement in developing countries.
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- 2018
41. Analysis of CD8 + T cell response during the 2013–2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa
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Mambu Momoh, Dylan Kotliar, Beatrice Cubitt, John S. Schieffelin, Augustine Goba, Brian M. Sullivan, John Demby Sandi, Michael B. A. Oldstone, Karthik Gangavarapu, Jessica N. Hartnett, Brian C. Ware, Donald S. Grant, Juan Carlos de la Torre, Kristian G. Andersen, Pardis C. Sabeti, Saori Sakabe, Refugio Robles-Sikisaka, Luis M. Branco, Robert F. Garry, and Lansana Kanneh
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Adult ,Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Adolescent ,viruses ,T cell ,Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ,Immunodominance ,CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,Antibodies, Viral ,medicine.disease_cause ,Sierra Leone ,Sierra leone ,Viral Proteins ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,VP40 ,Antigen ,HLA Antigens ,medicine ,Humans ,Cytotoxic T cell ,Survivors ,Epidemics ,Antigens, Viral ,Multidisciplinary ,Ebola virus ,business.industry ,Vaccination ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Ebolavirus ,Virology ,Nucleoproteins ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,PNAS Plus ,Female ,business ,CD8 - Abstract
The recent Ebola epidemic exemplified the importance of understanding and controlling emerging infections. Despite the importance of T cells in clearing virus during acute infection, little is known about Ebola-specific CD8+ T cell responses. We investigated immune responses of individuals infected with Ebola virus (EBOV) during the 2013–2016 West Africa epidemic in Sierra Leone, where the majority of the >28,000 EBOV disease (EVD) cases occurred. We examined T cell memory responses to seven of the eight Ebola proteins (GP, sGP, NP, VP24, VP30, VP35, and VP40) and associated HLA expression in survivors. Of the 30 subjects included in our analysis, CD8+ T cells from 26 survivors responded to at least one EBOV antigen. A minority, 10 of 26 responders (38%), made CD8+ T cell responses to the viral GP or sGP. In contrast, 25 of the 26 responders (96%) made response to viral NP, 77% to VP24 (20 of 26), 69% to VP40 (18 of 26), 42% (11 of 26) to VP35, with no response to VP30. Individuals making CD8+ T cells to EBOV VP24, VP35, and VP40 also made CD8+ T cells to NP, but rarely to GP. We identified 34 CD8+ T cell epitopes for Ebola. Our data indicate the immunodominance of the EBOV NP-specific T cell response and suggest that its inclusion in a vaccine along with the EBOV GP would best mimic survivor responses and help boost cell-mediated immunity during vaccination.
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- 2018
42. Field validation of recombinant antigen immunoassays for diagnosis of Lassa fever
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Mambu Momoh, Megan L. Heinrich, Matthew L. Boisen, S. Humarr Khan, Peter C. Kulakosky, Mbalu Fonnie, Luis M. Branco, Michael Gbakie, Katherine J. Siddle, Duane J. Bush, Aaron E. Lin, Megan M. Rowland, Sarah M. Winnicki, Mohamed Fullah, Anna E. Lachenauer, Mahan Nekoui, Christian T. Happi, Pardis C. Sabeti, Kristian G. Andersen, Robert W. Cross, Robert F. Garry, Lansana Kanneh, John S. Schieffelin, Don Grant, Kayla G. Barnes, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Kathryn M. Hastie, Russell B. Wilson, Veronica J. Koroma, Diana K. S. Nelson, Thomas W. Geisbert, Anatoliy P. Koval, Jessica N. Hartnett, Onikepe O. Folarin, Dylan Kotliar, Augustine Goba, and John Demby Sandi
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0301 basic medicine ,medicine.drug_class ,viruses ,030231 tropical medicine ,lcsh:Medicine ,Validation Studies as Topic ,Antibodies, Viral ,Monoclonal antibody ,medicine.disease_cause ,Article ,Sierra Leone ,Sierra leone ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,Lassa Fever ,0302 clinical medicine ,Antigen ,law ,Humans ,Medicine ,lcsh:Science ,Lassa virus ,Lassa fever ,Antigens, Viral ,Immunoassay ,Rapid diagnostic test ,Multidisciplinary ,biology ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,virus diseases ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,Recombinant Proteins ,3. Good health ,Africa, Western ,030104 developmental biology ,Immunoglobulin M ,Recombinant DNA ,biology.protein ,lcsh:Q ,Antibody ,business - Abstract
Lassa fever, a hemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus (LASV), is endemic in West Africa. It is difficult to distinguish febrile illnesses that are common in West Africa from Lassa fever based solely on a patient’s clinical presentation. The field performance of recombinant antigen-based Lassa fever immunoassays was compared to that of quantitative polymerase chain assays (qPCRs) using samples from subjects meeting the case definition of Lassa fever presenting to Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. The recombinant Lassa virus (ReLASV) enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) for detection of viral antigen in blood performed with 95% sensitivity and 97% specificity using a diagnostic standard that combined results of the immunoassays and qPCR. The ReLASV rapid diagnostic test (RDT), a lateral flow immunoassay based on paired monoclonal antibodies to the Josiah strain of LASV (lineage IV), performed with 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity. ReLASV immunoassays performed better than the most robust qPCR currently available, which had 82% sensitivity and 95% specificity. The performance characteristics of recombinant antigen-based Lassa virus immunoassays indicate that they can aid in the diagnosis of LASV Infection and inform the clinical management of Lassa fever patients.
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- 2018
43. Development of Prototype Filovirus Recombinant Antigen Immunoassays
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Megan M. Rowland, Darin Oottamasathien, Kelly R. Pitts, Francis Baimba, Marjan Akdag, Robert F. Garry, S. Humarr Khan, Richard Fonnie, Megan L. Heinrich, Donald S. Grant, Abigail B. Jones, Luis M. Branco, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Matthew L. Boisen, Shun-ichiro Oda, Joan B. Geisbert, Lansana Kanneh, Molly M. Millett, Robert W. Cross, Sadiki Safa, Jessica N. Hartnett, Mohammed Fullah, Augustine Goba, Mambu Momoh, Jeffery G. Shaffer, Dafna M. Abelson, John S. Schieffelin, Peter C. Kulakosky, Marnie L. Fusco, Russell B. Wilson, Michael Gbakie, Diana K. S. Nelson, Thomas W. Geisbert, and Zachary A. Bornholdt
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viruses ,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ,Cross Reactions ,Antibodies, Viral ,medicine.disease_cause ,Immunoglobulin G ,Sierra Leone ,Sierra leone ,VP40 ,Marburg virus disease ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Ebola and Marburg Viruses-Research, Outbreak Management, Epidemiology and Ecology ,Immunology and Allergy ,Marburg Virus Disease ,Antigens, Viral ,Immunoassay ,Ebola virus ,biology ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Ebolavirus ,Filoviridae ,Virology ,Africa, Western ,Infectious Diseases ,Immunoglobulin M ,Marburgvirus ,Polyclonal antibodies ,Immunology ,biology.protein - Abstract
Background. Throughout the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, major gaps were exposed in the availability of validated rapid diagnostic platforms, protective vaccines, and effective therapeutic agents. These gaps potentiated the development of prototype rapid lateral flow immunodiagnostic (LFI) assays that are true point-of-contact platforms, for the detection of active Ebola infections in small blood samples. Methods. RecombinantEbola and Marburg virus matrixVP40and glycoprotein (GP)antigenswere usedtoderive a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Antibodies were tested using a multivariate approach to identify antibody-antigen combinations suitable for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and LFI assay development. Results. Polyclonal antibodies generated in goats were superior reagents for capture and detection of recombinant VP40 in test sample matrices. These antibodies were optimized for use in antigen-capture ELISA and LFI assay platforms. Prototype immunoglobulin M (IgM)/immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISAs were similarly developed that specifically detect Ebola virus–specific antibodies in the serum of experimentally infected nonhuman primates and in blood samples obtained from patients with Ebola from Sierra Leone. Conclusions. The prototype recombinant Ebola LFI assays developed in these studies have sensitivities that are useful for clinical diagnosis of acute ebolavirus infections. The antigen-capture and IgM/IgG ELISAs provide additional confirmatory assay platforms for detecting VP40 and other ebolavirus-specific immunoglobulins.
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- 2015
44. Current and emerging strategies for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of Lassa fever
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Luis M. Branco, Kelly R. Pitts, Robert F. Garry, Sheik Humarr Khan, Matthew L. Boisen, Christian T. Happi, Sahr M. Gevao, Donald S. Grant, Mambu Momoh, Darin Oottamasathien, Debra L Holton, Ashley A. Reyna, Julie A. Rouelle, Abigail B. Jones, Chad E. Mire, Jessica N. Hartnett, James E. Robinson, Ivana J Muncy, Joan B. Geisbert, Chandrika B. Kannadka, Lina M. Moses, Mohammed Fullah, Augustine Goba, Thomas W. Geisbert, Molly M. Millett, and Diana K. S. Nelson
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Immunodiagnostics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Transmission (medicine) ,Public health ,medicine.disease_cause ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,West africa ,Lassa virus ,Epidemiology ,medicine ,Fatal disease ,Lassa fever ,business ,Intensive care medicine - Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a potentially fatal disease that affects an estimated 300,000–500,000 people in endemic areas of west Africa each year. Though past studies have identified fatality rates of 5–20% in patients suspected to have contracted Lassa virus (LASV), new studies using more precise clinical diagnoses and modern diagnostic assays show fatalities rates above 60% in acutely ill patients from endemic regions. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics, and only one Comformité Européenne (CE) marked rapid immunodiagnostic for acute LASV infection. Therefore, preventing LASV transmission is the primary goal in endemic regions. Development of rapid immunodiagnostics and research into the efficacy of current treatment options continues toward saving lives in west Africa as well as creating a line of defense against the nefarious use of LASV in bioterrorism settings.
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- 2015
45. Multiple Circulating Infections Can Mimic the Early Stages of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers and Possible Human Exposure to Filoviruses in Sierra Leone Prior to the 2014 Outbreak
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Dafna M. Abelson, Matthew L. Boisen, Jessica N. Hartnett, Donald S. Grant, Sheik Humarr Khan, Stephen K. Gire, Kelly R. Pitts, Robert F. Garry, John S. Schieffelin, Michelle Zandonatti, Pardis C. Sabeti, Darin Oottamasathien, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Sidiki Safa, Joan B. Geisbert, Lee A. Henderson, Robert W. Cross, Abigail B. Jones, Mambu Momoh, Peter C. Kulakoski, Mathew Stremlau, Kristian G. Andersen, Mohammed Fullah, Michael Gabiki, Kathryn M. Hastie, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Zach Bornholdt, Russell B. Wilson, Marnie L. Fusco, Luis M. Branco, Augustine Goba, Ridhi Tariyal, and Thomas W. Geisbert
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Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral ,viruses ,Immunology ,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ,Dengue virus ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antibodies, Viral ,Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Viral hemorrhagic fever ,Sierra leone ,Disease Outbreaks ,Sierra Leone ,Seroepidemiologic Studies ,Virology ,Original Research Articles ,medicine ,Humans ,Chikungunya ,Lassa fever ,Retrospective Studies ,Ebola virus ,business.industry ,Outbreak ,DNA, Protozoan ,medicine.disease ,Antibodies, Bacterial ,Lassa virus ,Immunoglobulin M ,Immunoglobulin G ,Molecular Medicine ,RNA, Viral ,business - Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus (LASV). The LF program at the Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) in Eastern Sierra Leone currently provides diagnostic services and clinical care for more than 500 suspected LF cases per year. Nearly two-thirds of suspected LF patients presenting to the LF Ward test negative for either LASV antigen or anti-LASV immunoglobulin M (IgM), and therefore are considered to have a non-Lassa febrile illness (NLFI). The NLFI patients in this study were generally severely ill, which accounts for their high case fatality rate of 36%. The current studies were aimed at determining possible causes of severe febrile illnesses in non-LF cases presenting to the KGH, including possible involvement of filoviruses. A seroprevalence survey employing commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests revealed significant IgM and IgG reactivity against dengue virus, chikungunya virus, West Nile virus (WNV), Leptospira, and typhus. A polymerase chain reaction-based survey using sera from subjects with acute LF, evidence of prior LASV exposure, or NLFI revealed widespread infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in febrile patients. WNV RNA was detected in a subset of patients, and a 419 nt amplicon specific to filoviral L segment RNA was detected at low levels in a single patient. However, 22% of the patients presenting at the KGH between 2011 and 2014 who were included in this survey registered anti-Ebola virus (EBOV) IgG or IgM, suggesting prior exposure to this agent. The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak is already the deadliest and most widely dispersed outbreak of its kind on record. Serological evidence reported here for possible human exposure to filoviruses in Sierra Leone prior to the current EVD outbreak supports genetic analysis that EBOV may have been present in West Africa for some time prior to the 2014 outbreak.
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- 2015
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46. Clinical Illness and Outcomes in Patients with Ebola in Sierra Leone
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John S, Schieffelin, Jeffrey G, Shaffer, Augustine, Goba, Michael, Gbakie, Stephen K, Gire, Andres, Colubri, Rachel S G, Sealfon, Lansana, Kanneh, Alex, Moigboi, Mambu, Momoh, Mohammed, Fullah, Lina M, Moses, Bethany L, Brown, Kristian G, Andersen, Sarah, Winnicki, Stephen F, Schaffner, Daniel J, Park, Nathan L, Yozwiak, Pan-Pan, Jiang, David, Kargbo, Simbirie, Jalloh, Mbalu, Fonnie, Vandi, Sinnah, Issa, French, Alice, Kovoma, Fatima K, Kamara, Veronica, Tucker, Edwin, Konuwa, Josephine, Sellu, Ibrahim, Mustapha, Momoh, Foday, Mohamed, Yillah, Franklyn, Kanneh, Sidiki, Saffa, James L B, Massally, Matt L, Boisen, Luis M, Branco, Mohamed A, Vandi, Donald S, Grant, Christian, Happi, Sahr M, Gevao, Thomas E, Fletcher, Robert A, Fowler, Daniel G, Bausch, Pardis C, Sabeti, S Humarr, Khan, Robert F, Garry, and Eghosa, Uyigue
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Adult ,Diarrhea ,Male ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Abdominal pain ,Fever ,Vomiting ,wa_395 ,medicine.disease_cause ,Article ,wa_110 ,Sierra Leone ,Viral hemorrhagic fever ,Sierra leone ,Case fatality rate ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Mortality ,Epidemics ,Ebola virus ,Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ,business.industry ,Outbreak ,General Medicine ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Middle Aged ,Viral Load ,wc_534 ,Ebolavirus ,medicine.disease ,Abdominal Pain ,3. Good health ,Surgery ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Viral load - Abstract
Background\ud \ud Limited clinical and laboratory data are available on patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD). The Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone, which had an existing infrastructure for research regarding viral hemorrhagic fever, has received and cared for patients with EVD since the beginning of the outbreak in Sierra Leone in May 2014.\ud \ud Methods\ud \ud We reviewed available epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory records of patients in whom EVD was diagnosed between May 25 and June 18, 2014. We used quantitative reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction assays to assess the load of Ebola virus (EBOV, Zaire species) in a subgroup of patients.\ud \ud Results\ud \ud Of 106 patients in whom EVD was diagnosed, 87 had a known outcome, and 44 had detailed clinical information available. The incubation period was estimated to be 6 to 12 days, and the case fatality rate was 74%. Common findings at presentation included fever (in 89% of the patients), headache (in 80%), weakness (in 66%), dizziness (in 60%), diarrhea (in 51%), abdominal pain (in 40%), and vomiting (in 34%). Clinical and laboratory factors at presentation that were associated with a fatal outcome included fever, weakness, dizziness, diarrhea, and elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine. Exploratory analyses indicated that patients under the age of 21 years had a lower case fatality rate than those over the age of 45 years (57% vs. 94%, P=0.03), and patients presenting with fewer than 100,000 EBOV copies per milliliter had a lower case fatality rate than those with 10 million EBOV copies per milliliter or more (33% vs. 94%, P=0.003). Bleeding occurred in only 1 patient.\ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud The incubation period and case fatality rate among patients with EVD in Sierra Leone are similar to those observed elsewhere in the 2014 outbreak and in previous outbreaks. Although bleeding was an infrequent finding, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal manifestations were common. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others.)
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- 2014
47. Genomic surveillance elucidates Ebola virus origin and transmission during the 2014 outbreak
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Kandeh Kargbo, Stephen F. Schaffner, S. Humarr Khan, John S. Scheiffelin, Kristian G. Andersen, Fatima K. Kamara, Sarah M. Winnicki, Mambu Momoh, Michael Gbakie, Sidiki Saffa, Chad Nusbaum, Mohamed Yillah, Lina M. Moses, Nathan L. Yozwiak, Augustine Goba, James Koninga, Mbalu Fonnie, Alice Kovoma, Franklyn Kanneh, Simbirie Jalloh, Christian B. Matranga, Lansana Kanneh, Willie Robert, James Qu, Christian T. Happi, Bruce W. Birren, Gytis Dudas, Mohamed Fullah, Sarah Young, Pardis C. Sabeti, Sahr M. Gevao, Ibrahim Mustapha, Moinya Ruth Coomber, Alex Moigboi, Eric S. Lander, Robert F. Garry, Daniel J. Park, Stephen K. Gire, Rachel Sealfon, James L.B. Massally, Donald S. Grant, Adrianne Gladden, Cheryl I. Murphy, Momoh Foday, Abdul A. Jalloh, Josephine Sellu, Andrés Colubri, Sinéad B. Chapman, Xiao Yang, Christine M. Malboeuf, Andreas Gnirke, Pan Pan Jiang, Mahan Nekoui, Edwin Konuwa, Veronica Tucker, Shirlee Wohl, Andrew Rambaut, and James Bochicchio
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Zaire ebolavirus ,viruses ,Genome, Viral ,Disease ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Article ,Sierra Leone ,Disease Outbreaks ,Sierra leone ,Genetic variation ,medicine ,Humans ,Ebolavirus ,Multidisciplinary ,Ebola virus ,Base Sequence ,Transmission (medicine) ,Genetic Variation ,Outbreak ,Genomics ,Sequence Analysis, DNA ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,Virology ,Mutation ,Epidemiological Monitoring - Abstract
Evolution of Ebola virus over time The high rate of mortality in the current Ebola epidemic has made it difficult for researchers to collect samples of the virus and study its evolution. Gire et al. describe Ebola epidemiology on the basis of 99 whole-genome sequences, including samples from 78 affected individuals. The authors analyzed changes in the viral sequence and conclude that the current outbreak probably resulted from the spread of the virus from central Africa in the past decade. The outbreak started from a single transmission event from an unknown animal reservoir into the human population. Two viral lineages from Guinea then spread from person to person into Sierra Leone. Science , this issue p. 1369
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- 2014
48. Analytical Validation of the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test for Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Ebola Virus Infection
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Robert W. Cross, Brima Kargbo, Krystle N. Agans, Megan L. Heinrich, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ha Pham, Momoh Gbetuwa, Bethany L. Brown, Matthew L. Boisen, Mambu Momoh, Robert F. Garry, Mohamed Fullah, Sahr M. Gevao, Diana K. S. Nelson, Thomas W. Geisbert, Russell B. Wilson, John S. Schieffelin, Kelly R. Pitts, Shun-ichiro Oda, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Zachary A. Bornholdt, Donald S. Grant, Jessica N. Hartnett, Molly M. Millett, Peter C. Kulakosky, Augustine Goba, Luis M. Branco, Joan B. Geisbert, Megan M. Rowland, Marnie L. Fusco, Darin Oottamasathien, Abigal B. Jones, Dafna M. Abelson, and Sheik Humarr Khan
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0301 basic medicine ,Emergency Use Authorization ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Point-of-care testing ,viruses ,Point-of-Care Systems ,030231 tropical medicine ,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ,medicine.disease_cause ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Sierra leone ,Disease Outbreaks ,Viral Matrix Proteins ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Limit of Detection ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Immunology and Allergy ,Animals ,Humans ,Lassa fever ,Antigens, Viral ,Point of care ,Immunoassay ,Ebola Outbreak in West Africa ,Ebola virus ,business.industry ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,medicine.disease ,Ebolavirus ,Triage ,Confidence interval ,Africa, Western ,030104 developmental biology ,Infectious Diseases ,Immunology ,Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ,business - Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic is the largest recorded. Triage on the basis of clinical signs had limited success, and the time to diagnosis by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) could exceed 5 days. Here we describe the development and field validation of the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test (ReEBOV RDT) to aid triage of individuals with suspected EVD. METHODS Samples from patients with suspected EVD were submitted to Kenema Government Hospital, Sierra Leone, for Lassa fever and EVD screening throughout 2014. Banked residual clinical samples were tested in November 2014 and January 2015 in a blinded field trial to estimate the clinical effectiveness of the ReEBOV RDT, compared with EBOV-specific qRT-PCR. RESULTS Preliminary ReEBOV RDT performance demonstrated a positive percentage agreement (PPA) of 91.1% (195 of 214 results; 95% confidence interval [CI], 86.5%-94.6%) and a negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 90.2% (175 of 194; 95% CI, 85.1%-94.0%). The final estimates used by the Food and Drug Administration to determine whether to grant emergency use authorization for the test, which excluded a qRT-PCR reference method threshold cutoff, were a PPA of 62.1% (72 of 116 results; 95% CI, 52.6%-70.9%) and a NPA of 96.7% (58 of 60; 95% CI, 88.5%-99.6%), with a diagnostic likelihood of 18.6. A subsequent, independent evaluation by the World Health Organization generated results consistent with the preliminary performance estimates. CONCLUSIONS The ReEBOV RDT demonstrated the potential to provide clinically effective rapid and accurate point-of-care test results and, thus, to be a powerful tool for increasing triage efficiency.
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- 2016
49. Memory T cell responses in survivors of the 2013–2016 West African Ebola outbreak
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Brian Martin Sullivan, Saori Sakabe, Jessica Hartnett, Augustine Goba, Mambu Momoh, John Demby Sandi, John S. Schieffelin, Juan Carlos de la Torre, Donald S. Grant, Robert F. Garry, and Michael B. Oldstone
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Immunology ,Immunology and Allergy - Abstract
Primary infection with Ebola virus protects against subsequent challenge, thus an optimal vaccine should generate immune responses similar to those found in disease survivors. To this end, we characterized CD8 and CD4 T cell responses in Ebola survivors to uncover the immunogenicity of seven of eight Ebola virus proteins. T cell responses of 33 Sierra Leonean Ebola survivors were examined. Nearly all individuals studied harbored nucleoprotein (NP)-specific CD8 T cell responses. Moreover, NP-specific T cells responded more strongly and were more numerous in 65% of NP responders compared to responses to other EBOV proteins in the same individual. Conversely, we found glycoprotein (GP) CD8+ T cell responses in only 37% of EBOV responders. GP responses were also weaker and less numerous than other responses in the same individual. Specificity of the CD4+ T cell responses were more evenly distributed. Altogether, our data indicate that NP is among the most immunogenic EBOV proteins while only VP30 was less immunogenic than GP in our cohort of Sierra Leonean survivors. An optimal vaccine designed to elicit both humoral and cell mediated immune responses in a broad human population should contain both NP and the GP.
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- 2018
50. Clinical Sequencing Uncovers Origins and Evolution of Lassa Virus
- Author
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Adrianne D. Gladden, Christian T. Happi, Sylvanus Okogbenin, Simbirie Jalloh, Kandeh Karbo, Joshua Z. Levin, Megan L. Heinrich, Andreas Gnirke, Zach Bjornson, Philomena E. Ehiane, Ridhi Tariyal, Sidiki Saffa, Mahan Nekoui, Peter O. Okokhere, Kathleen Rubins, B. Jesse Shapiro, Aaron E. Lin, Lansana Kanneh, Stephen F. Schaffner, Lisa E. Hensley, Augustine Goba, Michael Fitzgerald, Donald S. Grant, Nisha Broodie, Omowunmi Omoniwa, Marjan Akdag, Elizabeth M. Ryan, Eric Phelan, Onikepe A. Folarin, George O. Akpede, S. Humarr Khan, Niall J. Lennon, Daniel G. Bausch, Hilary K. Finucane, Barbara Tazon-Vega, James Qu, Stephan Günther, Ikponmwonsa Odia, Sarah Winnicki, James Bochicchio, Danielle C Levy, Rachel Sealfon, Mohammed Fullah, Kristian G. Andersen, Danny A. Milner, Mambu Momoh, Mbalu Fonnie, Eleina M. England, Christian B. Matranga, Amanda K. Lukens, Lina M. Moses, Eric S. Lander, Megan M. Rowland, Andrea T. Ireland, Stephen K. Gire, Pardis C. Sabeti, Aaron M. Berlin, Shervin Tabrizi, Henry Akpan, Luis M. Branco, Joseph B. McCormick, Michael Gbakie, Bruce W. Birren, Robert F. Garry, Joseph J. Vitti, John S. Schieffelin, Matthew Stremlau, Ryan Tewhey, Richard Fonnie, Caryn McCowan, Danny Asogun, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and Sealfon, Rachel Sima
- Subjects
Disease reservoir ,viruses ,Nigeria ,Genome, Viral ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Genome ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,Viral Proteins ,Lassa Fever ,Zoonoses ,Case fatality rate ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Lassa fever ,Lassa virus ,Disease Reservoirs ,Glycoproteins ,Ebolavirus ,Ebola virus ,Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all) ,Zoonosis ,Genetic Variation ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,Biological Evolution ,Africa, Western ,Mutation ,RNA, Viral ,Murinae - Abstract
The 2013–2015 West African epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reminds us of how little is known about biosafety level 4 viruses. Like Ebola virus, Lassa virus (LASV) can cause hemorrhagic fever with high case fatality rates. We generated a genomic catalog of almost 200 LASV sequences from clinical and rodent reservoir samples. We show that whereas the 2013–2015 EVD epidemic is fueled by human-to-human transmissions, LASV infections mainly result from reservoir-to-human infections. We elucidated the spread of LASV across West Africa and show that this migration was accompanied by changes in LASV genome abundance, fatality rates, codon adaptation, and translational efficiency. By investigating intrahost evolution, we found that mutations accumulate in epitopes of viral surface proteins, suggesting selection for immune escape. This catalog will serve as a foundation for the development of vaccines and diagnostics., National Institutes of Health (U.S.), United States. Dept. of Health and Human Services (Award 1DP2OD006514-01), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (Contracts HHSN272200900049C, HHSN272201000022C, HHSN272200900018C, and U19AI110818), United States Army Medical Acquisition Activity (Grant W81XWH-10-1-0098), David & Lucile Packard Foundation (Fellowship for Science and Engineering), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (SPARC Award), German Research Foundation (Grant GU 883/1-1), National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- Published
- 2015
Catalog
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