Screening and Identification of Lujo Virus Inhibitors Using a Recombinant Reporter Virus Platform

Lujo virus (LUJV), a highly pathogenic arenavirus, was first identified in 2008 in Zambia. To aid the identification of effective therapeutics for LUJV, we developed a recombinant reporter virus system, confirming reporter LUJV comparability with wild-type virus and its utility in high-throughput an...

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Main Authors: Stephen R. Welch, Jessica R. Spengler, Sarah C. Genzer, Payel Chatterjee, Mike Flint, Éric Bergeron, Joel M. Montgomery, Stuart T. Nichol, César G. Albariño, Christina F. Spiropoulou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/7/1255
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author Stephen R. Welch
Jessica R. Spengler
Sarah C. Genzer
Payel Chatterjee
Mike Flint
Éric Bergeron
Joel M. Montgomery
Stuart T. Nichol
César G. Albariño
Christina F. Spiropoulou
author_facet Stephen R. Welch
Jessica R. Spengler
Sarah C. Genzer
Payel Chatterjee
Mike Flint
Éric Bergeron
Joel M. Montgomery
Stuart T. Nichol
César G. Albariño
Christina F. Spiropoulou
author_sort Stephen R. Welch
collection DOAJ
description Lujo virus (LUJV), a highly pathogenic arenavirus, was first identified in 2008 in Zambia. To aid the identification of effective therapeutics for LUJV, we developed a recombinant reporter virus system, confirming reporter LUJV comparability with wild-type virus and its utility in high-throughput antiviral screening assays. Using this system, we evaluated compounds with known and unknown efficacy against related arenaviruses, with the aim of identifying LUJV-specific and potential new pan-arenavirus antivirals. We identified six compounds demonstrating robust anti-LUJV activity, including several compounds with previously reported activity against other arenaviruses. These data provide critical evidence for developing broad-spectrum antivirals against high-consequence arenaviruses.
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spelling doaj.art-a5c5b74b8d64468b9220e208da5b46b72023-11-22T01:58:41ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-06-01137125510.3390/v13071255Screening and Identification of Lujo Virus Inhibitors Using a Recombinant Reporter Virus PlatformStephen R. Welch0Jessica R. Spengler1Sarah C. Genzer2Payel Chatterjee3Mike Flint4Éric Bergeron5Joel M. Montgomery6Stuart T. Nichol7César G. Albariño8Christina F. Spiropoulou9Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USAViral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USALujo virus (LUJV), a highly pathogenic arenavirus, was first identified in 2008 in Zambia. To aid the identification of effective therapeutics for LUJV, we developed a recombinant reporter virus system, confirming reporter LUJV comparability with wild-type virus and its utility in high-throughput antiviral screening assays. Using this system, we evaluated compounds with known and unknown efficacy against related arenaviruses, with the aim of identifying LUJV-specific and potential new pan-arenavirus antivirals. We identified six compounds demonstrating robust anti-LUJV activity, including several compounds with previously reported activity against other arenaviruses. These data provide critical evidence for developing broad-spectrum antivirals against high-consequence arenaviruses.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/7/1255Lujo virusviral hemorrhagic feverarenavirusreporter virusreverse geneticsantiviral screen
spellingShingle Stephen R. Welch
Jessica R. Spengler
Sarah C. Genzer
Payel Chatterjee
Mike Flint
Éric Bergeron
Joel M. Montgomery
Stuart T. Nichol
César G. Albariño
Christina F. Spiropoulou
Screening and Identification of Lujo Virus Inhibitors Using a Recombinant Reporter Virus Platform
Viruses
Lujo virus
viral hemorrhagic fever
arenavirus
reporter virus
reverse genetics
antiviral screen
title Screening and Identification of Lujo Virus Inhibitors Using a Recombinant Reporter Virus Platform
title_full Screening and Identification of Lujo Virus Inhibitors Using a Recombinant Reporter Virus Platform
title_fullStr Screening and Identification of Lujo Virus Inhibitors Using a Recombinant Reporter Virus Platform
title_full_unstemmed Screening and Identification of Lujo Virus Inhibitors Using a Recombinant Reporter Virus Platform
title_short Screening and Identification of Lujo Virus Inhibitors Using a Recombinant Reporter Virus Platform
title_sort screening and identification of lujo virus inhibitors using a recombinant reporter virus platform
topic Lujo virus
viral hemorrhagic fever
arenavirus
reporter virus
reverse genetics
antiviral screen
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/7/1255
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