Lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host, Mastomys natalensis
Abstract Lassa virus (LASV) outbreaks in West Africa pose a significant public health threat. We investigated the infection phenotype and transmission (horizontal and vertical) of LASV strain Ba366 in its natural host, Mastomys natalensis. Here we analyze viral RNA levels in body fluids, virus titer...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53616-4 |
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| author | Chris Hoffmann Susanne Krasemann Stephanie Wurr Kristin Hartmann Elisa Adam Sabrina Bockholt Jonas Müller Stephan Günther Lisa Oestereich |
| author_facet | Chris Hoffmann Susanne Krasemann Stephanie Wurr Kristin Hartmann Elisa Adam Sabrina Bockholt Jonas Müller Stephan Günther Lisa Oestereich |
| author_sort | Chris Hoffmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Lassa virus (LASV) outbreaks in West Africa pose a significant public health threat. We investigated the infection phenotype and transmission (horizontal and vertical) of LASV strain Ba366 in its natural host, Mastomys natalensis. Here we analyze viral RNA levels in body fluids, virus titers in organs and antibody presence in blood. In adults and 2-week-old animals, LASV causes transient infections with subsequent seroconversion. However, mice younger than two weeks exhibit persistent infections lasting up to 16 months despite antibody presence. LASV can be detected in various body fluids, organs, and cell types, primarily in lung, kidney, and gonadal epithelial cells. Despite the systemic virus presence, no pathological alterations in organs are observed. Infected animals efficiently transmit the virus throughout their lives. Our findings underscore the crucial role of persistently infected individuals, particularly infected females and their progeny, in LASV dissemination within the host population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-495c2cf1cca34eedb8b0cc29945faafd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-495c2cf1cca34eedb8b0cc29945faafd2025-08-20T02:18:35ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-10-0115111510.1038/s41467-024-53616-4Lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host, Mastomys natalensisChris Hoffmann0Susanne Krasemann1Stephanie Wurr2Kristin Hartmann3Elisa Adam4Sabrina Bockholt5Jonas Müller6Stephan Günther7Lisa Oestereich8Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineInstitute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineInstitute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical MedicineAbstract Lassa virus (LASV) outbreaks in West Africa pose a significant public health threat. We investigated the infection phenotype and transmission (horizontal and vertical) of LASV strain Ba366 in its natural host, Mastomys natalensis. Here we analyze viral RNA levels in body fluids, virus titers in organs and antibody presence in blood. In adults and 2-week-old animals, LASV causes transient infections with subsequent seroconversion. However, mice younger than two weeks exhibit persistent infections lasting up to 16 months despite antibody presence. LASV can be detected in various body fluids, organs, and cell types, primarily in lung, kidney, and gonadal epithelial cells. Despite the systemic virus presence, no pathological alterations in organs are observed. Infected animals efficiently transmit the virus throughout their lives. Our findings underscore the crucial role of persistently infected individuals, particularly infected females and their progeny, in LASV dissemination within the host population.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53616-4 |
| spellingShingle | Chris Hoffmann Susanne Krasemann Stephanie Wurr Kristin Hartmann Elisa Adam Sabrina Bockholt Jonas Müller Stephan Günther Lisa Oestereich Lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host, Mastomys natalensis Nature Communications |
| title | Lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host, Mastomys natalensis |
| title_full | Lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host, Mastomys natalensis |
| title_fullStr | Lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host, Mastomys natalensis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host, Mastomys natalensis |
| title_short | Lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host, Mastomys natalensis |
| title_sort | lassa virus persistence with high viral titers following experimental infection in its natural reservoir host mastomys natalensis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53616-4 |
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