A SPIKING FEVER
Long neglected, LASSA FEVER is surging in West Africa. Researchers want to know why
In September 2023, 13-year-old Ngozu Ofozor was preparing to go home after spending 2 weeks in the Lassa Fever Isolation Ward science.org/content/articl…
2) Lassa fever has long been concentrated in endemic areas in Nigeria, Guinea ... But in recent years, cases of the deadly hemorrhagic disease have been popping up in other parts of West Africa. With climate change and population growth, the virus is expected to extend its reach
3) Scientists isolated the virus from 14 specimens of multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, so-called because of its long rows of nipples for nursing big litters. science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…
4) Since 2016, several other rodent species in Nigeria, Guinea, Ghana, and Benin have been shown to harbor the virus. But M. natalensis remains the main driver of deadly outbreaks pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27140942/
5) Survivors’ stories
Many of those who recover from Lassa fever have dealt with life-changing consequences. Some are shunned by their communities, and many have permanent hearing loss. Health care workers face a particularly high risk of infection.
6) With a large team of African, European, and U.S. researchers, Sabeti and Happi analyzed blood samples collected earlier from Lassa fever patients at ISTH and KGH and sequenced 183 viral genomes, as well as 11 more from M. natalensis field samples. nature.com/articles/s4156…
7) Now, 17 years after Sabeti’s initial observation, she, Happi, and colleagues, in their new study, published this month in Nature Microbiology shed light on the long-standing mystery of why some people develop severe disease and some mild nature.com/articles/s4146…
8) Most attention has focused on ecological factors that favor virus circulation, perhaps by influencing its survival outside the host, or rodent behavior. Rainfall and to a lesser extent temperature seem to be key.
9) By 2070, under a “moderate” climate change scenario, areas suitable for Lassa virus circulation could cover most of the region between Guinea and Nigeria. Susceptible regions could also appear for the first time in parts of Central and East Africa.
10) CONCLUSION
No one expects the Lassa virus to spark a global pandemic—unlike respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 that easily spread from one person to another. But for those who study the disease and treat its victims, the steady march of the disease is alarming
A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH in the BATTLE against COVID-19? 💯👍
Focusing specifically on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) rather than the entire SARS-CoV-2 spike protein provides enhanced, long-lasting protection against viral mutations! sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
2) Researchers have developed a new antibody called VIR-7229 that is highly effective at neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including recent Omicron variants. What makes VIR-7229 unique is its ability to target a specific region of the virus's spike protein called ...
3) ...the receptor-binding motif (RBM).
The RBM is an important part of the spike protein that the virus uses to attach to and infect human cells. Antibodies that target the RBM are generally very potent, but they also tend to be specific to the original Wuhan strain.
The E PROTEIN (again and again), induces MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION and apoptosis, leading to HIGH LEVELS of MITOCHONDRIA FRAGMENTS in the BLOOD 😨 - key pathways contributing to COVID-19 severity. link.springer.com/article/10.100…
2) The study found that COVID-19 patients have high levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments in their blood compared to healthy people. Mitochondria are the 'powerhouses' of cells, and when they are damaged, they can release this mtDNA.
3) The researchers also identified unique proteins in the blood of COVID-19 patients that are involved in inflammation and immune responses.
SARS-COV-2 and MITOCHONDRIA
(2nd part)
"Aging mitochondria in the context of SARS-CoV-2: exploring interactions and implications"
A very interesting review 💯 frontiersin.org/journals/aging…
2) Mitochondria are the structures in our cells that generate energy. As we age, mitochondria become less efficient, leading to increased oxidative stress and weaker immune responses. This makes older people more vulnerable to severe COVID-19.
3) Obesity is also linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Excess fat can damage mitochondria in fat cells, causing metabolic problems and inflammation. This pro-inflammatory state further compromises the body's ability to fight off SARS-CoV-2 infection.
When SARS-CoV-2 impacts mitochondria, the ENERGY-PRODUCING CENTERS of our CELLS, the effects on our body is significant and severe.
Two studies released this week enhance our understanding of these occurrences.
2) Before summarizing these studies, let's first present this graph with fragment of a control cell (left) and cell infected with SARS-CoV-2 (right). Cell nucleus (purple), healthy mitochondria (green), and mitochondria modified by infection, vacuoles (light blue)
3) About the effects of dysfunction of mitochondria in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection, they are mainly :
▶️ Energy Deficiency which could impair cellular functions and contribute to fatigue and weakness often reported by COVID-19 patients.
2) The study found that COVID-19 patients, especially those hospitalized, have a much higher long-term risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks, strokes, and death. This increased risk can last up to 3 years, even in people without prior heart disease.
3) In fact, the risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients is comparable to those who already have heart disease. This suggests that severe COVID-19 infection should be considered a "heart disease risk equivalent," which would prompt more intensive preventive treatment.
The primary CONCERN for the FUTURE, is the CO-INFECTION involving SARS-CoV-2 and other PATHOGENS
In this key study COVID-19 + BACTERIA Listeria monocytogenes (LM) which exploits the body's own antiviral defenses.
H/t @outbreakupdates nature.com/articles/s4146…
2) Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne, intracellular bacteria that can cause serious infections by breaching immune defenses and hiding within host cells.
3) Using live imaging, the researchers found that this bacteria can quickly escape from liver immune cells called Kupffer cells. It does this by using a toxin to punch holes in the Kupffer cell membranes, allowing LM to get out and infect other cells called hepatocytes instead