Conveners
Session 11: Emerging Pathogens III + Conservation & Wildlife
- Magdalena Meyer
- Fabian Leendertz
Mammarenaviridae is a genus of ambisense RNA-viruses, with members that cause viral hemorrhagic fever, namely Lassa virus (LASV) and Lujo virus (LUJV) and members that have not been associated with disease, such as
Mopeia virus (MOPV). LASV infection results in 5000 to 10,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa, and LUJV has a case-fatality rate of up to 80%. The Natal multimammate mouse...
MERS-CoV is a highly pathogenic Betacoronavirus with a ~36% case-fatality rate and a zoonotic origin in dromedary camels. Clade B strains circulate in the Arabian Peninsula and are the primary cause of severe human infections, leading to sporadic outbreaks. In recent years, different clade B lineages have emerged, with lineage B5 replacing other clade B strains in the Middle East. Lineage B5...
Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus that primarily affects birds but can also cause neuroinvasive disease in humans. Despite the growing number of outbreaks and increasing concern, many aspects of its biology remain poorly understood. Several viral lineages have been identified, but a systematic comparison of mutations within the pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E)...
Background: Mpox was declared an epidemic in Uganda on July 24, 2024. By December 30, 2024, approximately 800 mpox cases were reported across 53 districts, with Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA) bearing two-thirds of the burden. Mpox response in Uganda is still deficient in aspects of mental health support to case-patients or survivors. We assessed the prevalence and associated factors of...
RSK kinases belong to the downstream targets of the classical MAPK/ERK pathway, which contributes to the release of the influenza virus (IV) genome via endosomal acidification. Here we show for the first time, that the kinase isoform RSK1 is also involved in this process.
Inhibition of RSK with the inhibitor BI-D1870 or siRNA mediated knockdown of RSK1 resulted in a decreased internalization...
The genus Orthonairovirus contains tick-borne viruses with public and veterinary health importance, such as Nairobi Sheep Disease Virus (NSDV) which causes febrile illness in humans and lethal haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in goats and sheep with mortality rates of 90%. The aim of this study was to get insight into the genetic diversity of nairoviruses circulating in Uganda. Blood from cattle...
