Viruses 2012, 4(10), 2031-2048; doi:10.3390/v4102031
Review

Pathogenesis of Lassa Fever

Nadezhda E. Yunemail and David H. Walker* email
Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 3 September 2012; in revised form: 28 September 2012 / Accepted: 3 October 2012 / Published: 9 October 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arenaviruses)
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Abstract: Lassa virus, an Old World arenavirus (family Arenaviridae), is the etiological agent of Lassa fever, a severe human disease that is reported in more than 100,000 patients annually in the endemic regions of West Africa with mortality rates for hospitalized patients varying between 5-10%. Currently, there are no approved vaccines against Lassa fever for use in humans. Here, we review the published literature on the life cycle of Lassa virus with the specific focus put on Lassa fever pathogenesis in humans and relevant animal models. Advancing knowledge significantly improves our understanding of Lassa virus biology, as well as of the mechanisms that allow the virus to evade the host’s immune system. However, further investigations are required in order to design improved diagnostic tools, an effective vaccine, and therapeutic agents.
Keywords: arenavirus; Lassa virus; pathogenesis; cell-mediated immunity

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Yun, N.E.; Walker, D.H. Pathogenesis of Lassa Fever. Viruses 2012, 4, 2031-2048.

AMA Style

Yun NE, Walker DH. Pathogenesis of Lassa Fever. Viruses. 2012; 4(10):2031-2048.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yun, Nadezhda E.; Walker, David H. 2012. "Pathogenesis of Lassa Fever." Viruses 4, no. 10: 2031-2048.

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