Studies on Lassa fever which is endemic in South-east area of Nigeria

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25305016
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Virology
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: YASUDA Jiro 長崎大学, 熱帯医学研究所, 教授 (10282518)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KUROSAKI Yohei 長崎大学, 熱帯医学研究所, 助教 (40415443) ; URATA Shuzo 長崎大学, 熱帯医学研究所, 助教 (20614449)
• Research Collaborator: Uche Sonny Unigwe
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ラッサ熱 / ラッサウイルス / ナイジェリア / 次世代シーケンサー / 国際研究者交流

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Lassa fever caused by Lassa virus with high virulence is serious problem in West Africa, especially in Nigeria. In this study, we collected 121 serum samples from suspected patients in South-east area of Nigeria during 2012-2016 and analyzed. RT-PCR assay showed that 32 samples were positive for Lassa virus. Genetic analyses for virus genes revealed that Lassa virus has been genetically conserved without any positive selection for long time in this area. In addition, analysis with a next generation sequencer suggested that E. coli O157:H7 may be involved in the increased lethality of Lassa virus infection in this area.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学