title: Immune responses and Lassa virus infection.
abstract: Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa and caused by Lassa virus, an Old World arenavirus. It may be fatal, but most patients recover from acute disease and some experience asymptomatic infection. The immune mechanisms associated with these different outcomes have not yet been fully elucidated, but considerable progress has recently been made, through the use of in vitro human models and nonhuman primates, the only relevant animal model that mimics the pathophysiology and immune responses induced in patients. We discuss here the roles of the various components of the innate and adaptive immune systems in Lassa virus infection and in the control of viral replication and pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 21 avenue Tony Garnier, 69365 Lyon, France. marion.russier@inserm.fr
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russier
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pannetier
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baize
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007835:Lassa Fever / Q000276:immunology*; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology