Treatment of acute Lassa fever infections has successfully utilised IV administration of ribavirin - a nucleotide analogue drug (not an approved for human use as the efficacy of oral administration has not been demonstrated).
To date, several potential new vaccine platforms have been explored, but none have progressed toward clinical trials and commercialisation. The development of a vaccine that could be generated in sufficient quantities and at a low cost could herald a subcontinent-wide vaccination program. This would reduce major outbreaks and endemic infections.
Branco et al used efficient mammalian expression systems to generate a Lassa virus-like particle (VLP)-based modular vaccine platform. It generated large quantities of LASV VLP in human cells. These VLP contained the major immunological determinants of the virus: glycoprotein complex, nucleoprotein, and Z matrix protein, with known post-translational modifications. The expressed VLP was able to generate high levels of immunogenic viral proteins. These pseudoproteins have structure and morphology similar to native LASV virions, but lack replicative functions, and thus can be safely generated in low biosafety level settings. LASV VLP were immunogenic in mice in the absence of adjuvants, with mature IgG responses developing within a few weeks after the first immunization.
† Glossary:
IV - Intravenous
IV - Intravenous