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Pathophysiology of severe manifestations of Lassa fever
Summary
Lassa virus (LASV) causes Lassa fever (LF), a dangerous viral illness in West Africa that can lead to severe complications and high mortality, especially in hospitalized patients. Despite its impact, there are currently no specific treatments or vaccines. Lassa fever is now recognized by the WHO as a priority for urgent research. The disease can cause sepsis-like symptoms, including organ failure and shock, similar to Ebola virus disease. While severe bleeding is rare, serious complications like kidney failure, nervous system involvement (e.g., seizures or meningitis), and pregnancy-related risks are common, yet not well understood.
This project aims to study how Lassa virus causes such severe disease. In close partnership with the
By better understanding the different forms and complications of Lassa fever, this research will support the development of improved treatment guidelines and medical interventions—both for LF and other high-risk emerging viral infections.
Our Work Packages (WP):
WP1: Recruitment and clinical characterization of a prospective cohort of Lassa fever patients, including subgroups with renal failure, CNS involvement, and pregnancy-related complications.
WP2: Biomarker analysis of patient samples to investigate the role of inflammation and coagulopathy in severe disease.
WP3: Histopathological studies of brain and placental tissue, supported by organoid models, to explore organ-specific damage mechanisms.
These work packages help us uncover the causes of severe complications in Lassa fever and support the development of targeted treatments and clinical management strategies.
Team
Prof. Dr. Stephan Günther
Principal Investigator
E-mail address:
Phone: +49 40 285380-547
Prof. Dr. Michael Ramharter
Principal Investigator
E-mail address:
Phone: +49 (0) 40 42818 - 511
Dr. Till Omansen
Principal Investigator
E-mail address:
Phone: +49 40 285380-267
Department Günther
The Department Virology is based at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg.
Research Group Omansen
The Lassa Fever Clinical Research Team is based at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg.
Department Ramharter
The Bernhard Nocht Centre for Clinical Trials is based at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine.
Project related publications
Erameh CO, Koch T, Edeawe OI, Oestereich L, Omansen T, …, Günther S, Ramharter M, Akideno PE, Kreuels B. Focussed Assessment with Sonography in acute Lassa Fever (FASLa): Development of a point-of-care protocol and description of common ultrasound findings. J Infect. 2023;87(1):27-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.04.008.
Okogbenin S, Erameh C, Okoeguale J, …, Oestereich L, …, Günther S, Ramharter M, Omansen T. Two cases of Lassa fever successfully treated with ribavirin and adjunct dexamethasone for concomitant infections. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022;28(10):2060-3. doi: 10.3201/eid2810.220625.
Strampe J, Asogun DA, Speranza E, …, Muñoz-Fontela C, …, Günther S, Connor JH, Oestereich L. Factors associated with progression to death in patients with Lassa fever in Nigeria: an observational study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30737-4.
Duvignaud A, Jaspard M, Etafo IC, …, Günther S, …, Ayodeji OO, Anglaret X, Malvy D. Lassa fever outcomes and prognostic factors in Nigeria (LASCOPE): a prospective cohort study. Lancet Glob Health. 2021;9(4):e469-e478. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30518-0.
Asogun DA, Günther S, Akpede GO, Ihekweazu C, Zumla A. Lassa fever: epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management and prevention. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2019;33(4):933-951. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2019.08.002.
Eberhardt KA, Mischlinger J, Jordan S, Groger M, Günther S, Ramharter M. Ribavirin for the treatment of Lassa fever: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Infect Dis. 2019;87:15-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2019.07.015.
Akpede GO, Asogun DA, Okogbenin SA, …, Happi CT, Günther S, Agbonlahor DE. Caseload and case fatality of Lassa fever in Nigeria, 2001–2018: a specialist center’s experience and its implications. Front Public Health. 2019;7:170. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00170.
Kafetzopoulou LE, Pullan ST, Lemey P, …, Oestereich L, …, Ogbaini-Emovon E, Günther S, Duraffour S. Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the Nigeria 2018 Lassa fever outbreak. Science. 2019;363(6422):74-77. doi: 10.1126/science.aau9343.
Okokhere P, Colubri A, Azubike C, …, Akpede G, Günther S, Sabeti PC. Clinical and laboratory predictors of Lassa fever outcome in a dedicated treatment facility in Nigeria: a retrospective, observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(6):684-695. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30121-X.
Kreuels B, Wichmann D, Emmerich P, …, Günther S, Lohse AW, Addo MM, Schmiedel S. A case of severe Ebola virus infection complicated by gram-negative septicemia. N Engl J Med. 2014;371(25):2394-2401. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1411677.