Genome-wide association study identifies human genetic variants associated with fatal outcome from Lassa fever

Infection with Lassa virus (LASV) can cause Lassa fever, a haemorrhagic illness with an estimated fatality rate of 29.7%, but causes no or mild symptoms in many individuals. Here, to investigate whether human genetic variation underlies the heterogeneity of LASV infection, we carried out genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as well as seroprevalence surveys, human leukocyte antigen typing and high-throughput variant functional characterization assays. We analysed Lassa fever susceptibility and fatal outcomes in 533 cases of Lassa fever and 1,986 population controls recruited over a 7 year period in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. We detected genome-wide significant variant associations with Lassa fever fatal outcomes near GRM7 and LIF in the Nigerian cohort. We also show that a haplotype bearing signatures of positive selection and overlapping LARGE1, a required LASV entry factor, is associated with decreased risk of Lassa fever in the Nigerian cohort but not in the Sierra Leone cohort. Overall, we identified variants and genes that may impact the risk of severe Lassa fever, demonstrating how GWAS can provide insight into viral pathogenesis

Atypical presentation of mpox in Irrua environs: a case report

Abstract Background Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, -is an orthopoxvirus infection of the skin and previously a public health emergency of international concern. It reemerged in Nigeria over 5 years ago and has since spread to other parts of the world. This is a case report of a confirmed patient who was managed at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria before the global surge. This report shows peculiar differences from previous patients managed at the same center in terms of the relatively prolonged eruptive phase, possible seasonal occurrence of mpox in the community, and some traditional care for mpox and skin rashes. It also corroborates previous reports of possible sexual transmission of mpox in Nigeria before the report from the global outbreak. Case presentation The patient is a 30-year-old Nigerian male artisan with a 2-month history of raised rashes on the body that started on the genitals then involved other parts of the body. There was history of sore throat and unprotected sex with a female partner with similar rash whose other sexual history could not be ascertained. There was also history of “seasonal” rash in his village for about 7 years prior to his symptoms. Examination showed multiple vesicles and some nodules (ulcerating, healing, and healed) on the face, trunk, limbs, gluteal region, scrotum, palms, and sole, an almost circumferential penile ulcer, and lymphadenopathy. Polymerase chain reaction skin samples sent for mpox returned positive, while retroviral and coronavirus disease 2019 screenings were negative. He was managed in isolation while contact tracing in the affected community was initiated. Conclusion Atypical presentations of mpox, as managed in Irrua before the global surge, emphasize the varied spectrum of presentations (typical and atypical) in Nigeria. Therefore, there is a need for a higher index of suspicion for the uncommon presentations which will strengthen case recognition, case management, and community-based interventions as well as surveillance in the prevention and control of mpox in Irrua, its environs, Nigeria, and the world

Genome-wide association study identifies human genetic variants associated with fatal outcome from Lassa fever.

Infection with Lassa virus (LASV) can cause Lassa fever, a haemorrhagic illness with an estimated fatality rate of 29.7%, but causes no or mild symptoms in many individuals. Here, to investigate whether human genetic variation underlies the heterogeneity of LASV infection, we carried out genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as well as seroprevalence surveys, human leukocyte antigen typing and high-throughput variant functional characterization assays. We analysed Lassa fever susceptibility and fatal outcomes in 533 cases of Lassa fever and 1,986 population controls recruited over a 7 year period in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. We detected genome-wide significant variant associations with Lassa fever fatal outcomes near GRM7 and LIF in the Nigerian cohort. We also show that a haplotype bearing signatures of positive selection and overlapping LARGE1, a required LASV entry factor, is associated with decreased risk of Lassa fever in the Nigerian cohort but not in the Sierra Leone cohort. Overall, we identified variants and genes that may impact the risk of severe Lassa fever, demonstrating how GWAS can provide insight into viral pathogenesis

Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the Nigeria 2018 Lassa fever outbreak

Supporting data associated with a paper titled "Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the Nigeria 2018 Lassa fever outbreak". It contains metadata of the 120 samples sequenced (Data S1) and Identifiers and Bioproject numbers of the 2012 to 2017 LASV sequences (Data S2)