Mice lacking functional STAT1 are highly susceptible to lethal infection with Lassa virus

J Virol. 2013 Oct;87(19):10908-11. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01433-13. Epub 2013 Jul 31.

Abstract

Lassa fever (LF) is a potentially lethal human disease that is caused by the arenavirus Lassa virus (LASV). Annually, around 300,000 infections with up to 10,000 deaths occur in regions of Lassa fever endemicity in West Africa. Here we demonstrate that mice lacking a functional STAT1 pathway are highly susceptible to infection with LASV and develop lethal disease with pathology similar to that reported in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Africa, Western
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Humans
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney / virology
  • Lassa Fever / genetics
  • Lassa Fever / mortality
  • Lassa Fever / virology*
  • Lassa virus / pathogenicity*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / physiology
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / physiology*
  • Survival Rate
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Ifnar1 protein, mouse
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Stat1 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta