@article{78b956b799544618b30796e359ce1630,
title = "Antibodies from Sierra Leonean and Nigerian Lassa fever survivors cross-react with recombinant proteins representing Lassa viruses of divergent lineages",
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{\textquoteright}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.",
author = "Heinrich, {Megan L.} and Boisen, {Matthew L.} and Nelson, {Diana K.S.} and Bush, {Duane J.} and Cross, {Robert W.} and Koval, {Anatoliy P.} and Hoffmann, {Andrew R.} and Beddingfield, {Brandon J.} and Hastie, {Kathryn M.} and Rowland, {Megan M.} and Irina Aimukanova and Sophia Koval and Raju Lathigra and Viktoriya Borisevich and Mambu Momoh and Sandi, {John Demby} and Augustine Goba and lkponmwosa Odia and Francis Baimba and Aiyepada, {John O.} and Benevolence Ebo and Philomena Eromon and Chinedu Ugwu and Onikepe Folarin and Testimony Olumade and Onyechi, {MacDonald D.N.} and Johnson Etafo and Rashidat Adeyemi and Ella, {Elijah E.} and Maryam Aminu and Gomerep, {Simji S.} and Eke, {Matthew Afam} and Olusola Ogunsanya and Akpede, {George O.} and Asogun, {Danny O.} and Okogbenin, {Sylvanus A.} and Okokhere, {Peter O.} and Johan Holst and Shaffer, {Jeffrey G.} and Schieffelin, {John S.} and Geisbert, {Thomas W.} and Saphire, {Erica Ollmann} and Happi, {Christian T.} and Grant, {Donald S.} and Garry, {Robert F.} and Branco, {Luis M.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by Grant INTU1901 from CEPI under the Development, Characterization and Establishment of Biological Standards program. Drs. Trygve Danielsen, Valentina Bernasconi and Gunnstein Norheim provided invaluable guidance for study design and constructive criticism of the manuscript. We thank the members of the VHFC, including the Broad Institute, Harvard University, La Jolla Institute of Immunology, the Scripps Research Institute, Tulane University, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Zalgen Labs, the ISTH Lassa Fever Program, and KGH, and the program staff of CEPI for their support. We are also grateful to the patients who presented to clinical sites in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, as well as their families, without whose cooperation this study would not have been possible. Douglass T Simpson, Simbirie C. Jalloh, Allyson M. Haislip, Christopher M. Bishop and Tynette D. Hills provided program management and logistical support.",
year = "2020",
month = dec,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1038/s41598-020-72539-w",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "10",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
issn = "2045-2322",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "1",
}