Lassa Virus Reverse Genetics

Methods in Molecular Biology
Luis Martínez-SobridoJuan Carlos de la Torre

Abstract

The Old World (OW) arenavirus Lassa (LASV ) is estimated to infect several hundred thousand people yearly in West Africa, resulting in high numbers of Lassa fever (LF), a viral hemorrhagic fever (HF) disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. To date, no licensed vaccines are available to LASV infections, and anti-LASV drug therapy is limited to an off-label use of ribavirin (Rib) that is only partially effective. The development of reverse genetics has provided investigators with a novel and powerful approach for the investigation of the molecular, cell biology, and pathogenesis of LASV. The use of cell-based LASV minigenome (MG) systems has allowed examining the cis- and trans-acting factors involved in genome replication and gene transcription and the identification of novel drugable LASV targets. Likewise, it is now feasible to rescue infectious recombinant (r)LASV entirely from cloned cDNAs containing predetermined mutations in their genomes to investigate virus-host interactions and mechanisms of pathogenesis, as well as to facilitate screens to identify antiviral drugs against LASV and the implementation of novel strategies to develop live-attenuated vaccines (LAV). In this chapter we will summarize the state-...Continue Reading

Citations

Jul 17, 2020·Journal of Virology·Chengjin YeLuis Martínez-Sobrido
Aug 24, 2019·Current Opinion in Virology·Tsing-Lee Tang-HuauK Rosenke
Jul 4, 2020·Current Opinion in Virology·Breanna Tercero, Shinji Makino

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