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Researchers at Scripps Research have made significant strides in understanding the Lassa virus, which causes severe illness and affects hundreds of thousands annually in West Africa. The team’s focus on the virus’s glycoprotein complex (GPC) has led to the identification of new antibodies and vaccine targets crucial for combating Lassa fever, as there are currently no widely approved treatments or vaccines. In their study published in Cell Reports, the researchers detailed the structure of the GPC, revealing that glycoproteins exist as trimers rather than single proteins. This breakthrough allows for a more reliable isolation and characterization of antibodies that can neutralize the virus.
The scientists also discovered that glycoproteins from various lineages of the Lassa virus are surprisingly conserved, which may explain the difficulty in targeting all variants effectively with antibodies. Using patient blood samples, the team isolated several antibodies that recognized the GPC trimers. Their ongoing work aims to identify more antibodies and explore target sites for potential drug development. This research represents a foundational step toward designing effective vaccines and therapies against Lassa virus, with broader implications for scientific advances in this field.
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