RRC ID 81510
Author Takuma Ariizumi, Koshiro Tabata, Yukari Itakura, Hiroko Kobayashi, William W. Hall, Michihito Sasaki, Hirofumi Sawa, Keita Matsuno, Yasuko Orba
Title Establishment of a lethal mouse model of emerging tick-borne orthonairovirus infections
Journal PLOS Pathogens
Abstract Emerging and reemerging tick-borne virus infections caused by orthonairoviruses (family Nairoviridae), which are genetically distinct from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, have been recently reported in East Asia. Here, we have established a mouse infection model using type-I/II interferon receptor-knockout mice (AG129 mice) both for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of these infections and validation of antiviral agents using Yezo virus (YEZV), a novel orthonairovirus causing febrile illnesses associated with tick bites in Japan and China. YEZV-inoculated AG129 mice developed hepatitis with body weight loss and died by 6 days post infection. Blood biochemistry tests showed elevated liver enzyme levels, similar to YEZV-infected human patients. AG129 mice treated with favipiravir survived lethal YEZV infection, demonstrating the anti-YEZV effect of this drug. The present mouse model will help us better understand the pathogenicity of the emerging tick-borne orthonairoviruses and the development of specific antiviral agents for their treatment.
Volume 20
Pages e1012101
Published 2024-3-19
DOI 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012101
PMID 38502642
PMC PMC10980201
MeSH Animals Antiviral Agents / pharmacology Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use Disease Models, Animal Mice Mice, Knockout Nairovirus* Tick-Borne Diseases*
Resource
Human pathogenic viruses