Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki, Allison Black, Daniel B. Mukadi, James Hadfield, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Catherine B. Pratt, Amuri Aziza, Moussa M. Diagne, Bailey White, Nella Bisento, Bibiche Nsunda, Marceline Akonga, Martin Faye, Ousmane Faye, Francois Edidi-Atani, Meris Matondo-Kuamfumu, Fabrice Mambu-Mbika, Junior Bulabula, Nicholas Di Paola, Matthias G. Pauthner, Kristian G. Andersen, Gustavo Palacios, Eric Delaporte, Amadou Alpha Sall, Martine Peeters, Michael R. Wiley, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Trevor Bedford, Jean-Jacques Muyembe Tamfum
Summary: The study demonstrates the feasibility of using genomic sequencing data from the Ebola virus outbreak in the DRC to inform public health epidemic response in near-real time. The genomic surveillance system helped in understanding the transmission dynamics and guided response efforts effectively.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Phuong N. Pham, Manasi Sharma, Kennedy Kihangi Bindu, Pacifique Zikomangane, Rachel C. Nethery, Eric Nilles, Patrick Vinck
Summary: This study found gender differences in adopting preventive protective behaviors against EVD. These findings suggest that it is critical to design gender-sensitive communication and vaccination strategies, while engaging women and their community as a whole in any response to infectious disease outbreaks. Research on the potential link between gender and sociodemographics factors associated with disease risk and outcomes is needed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Harley Vossler, Pierre Akilimali, Yuhan Pan, Wasiur R. KhudaBukhsh, Eben Kenah, Grzegorz A. Rempala
Summary: In this study, a novel statistical method was used to analyze individual-level incidence and hospitalization data of Ebola victims in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2018 and 2020. The analysis suggests that the increase in quarantine and isolation rate during the third and final wave of the epidemic, which shortened the infectiousness period, was likely responsible for eventually containing the outbreak. The study also reveals that the total effective population size of individuals at risk during the 24-month period was much smaller than previously estimated, indicating partial protection of the population through ring vaccination, contact tracing, and strict quarantine policies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Reena H. Doshi, Stephanie C. Garbern, Shibani Kulkarni, Shiromi M. Perera, Monica K. Fleming, Rigobert Fraterne Muhayangabo, Arsene Balene Ombeni, Dieula Delissaint Tchoualeu, Ruth Kallay, Elizabeth Song, Jasmine Powell, Monique Gainey, Bailey Glenn, Ruffin Mitume Mutumwa, Stephane Hans Bateyi Mustafa, Giulia Earle-Richardson, Hongjiang Gao, Neetu Abad, Gnakub Norbert Soke, David L. Fitter, Terri B. Hyde, Dimitri Prybylski, Adam C. Levine, Mohamed F. Jalloh, Eta Ngole Mbong
Summary: This study investigated the perceptions and uptake of Ebola vaccination among healthcare workers during the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The study found that mistrust of the vaccine was associated with lower first-offer uptake among healthcare workers. Repeated vaccination offers and addressing mistrust are necessary to improve vaccine uptake.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Stephanie Chow Garbern, Shiromi M. Perera, Eta Ngole Mbong, Shibani Kulkarni, Monica K. Fleming, Arsene Baleke Ombeni, Rigobert Fraterne Muhayangabo, Dieula Delissaint Tchoualeu, Ruth Kallay, Elizabeth Song, Jasmine Powell, Monique Gainey, Bailey Glenn, Hongjiang Gao, Ruffin Mitume Mutumwa, Stephane Hans Bateyi Mustafa, Neetu Abad, Gnakub Norbert Soke, Dimitri Prybylski, Reena H. Doshi, Rena Fukunaga, Adam C. Levine
Summary: A survey conducted in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, examined the perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines among community members and healthcare workers affected by the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak. The study found that despite perceiving the risk of COVID-19 infection, vaccine intention was low. Factors associated with vaccine perceptions included previous experience with Ebola vaccination, concerns about safety and side effects, religion's influence on health decisions, security concerns, and governmental distrust. Enhanced community engagement and communication are needed to address these concerns and improve vaccine perceptions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicole A. Hoff, Anna Bratcher, J. Daniel Kelly, Kamy Musene, Jean Paul Kompany, Michel Kabamba, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Bonnie Dighero-Kemp, Gregory Kocher, Elizabeth Elliott, Cavan Reilly, Megan Halbrook, Benoit Ilunga Kebela, Adva Gadoth, Guillaume Ngoie Mwamba, Merly Tambu, David R. McIlwain, Patrick Mukadi, Lisa E. Hensley, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, George W. Rutherford, Jean Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Anne W. Rimoin
Summary: This study examines the antibody response to a single-dose rVSV Delta G-ZEBOV-GP vaccination among EVD-exposed and potentially exposed populations in the DRC. The results show that the majority of vaccinated individuals developed an antibody response at 21 days and 6 months postvaccination, and the antibodies persisted over time. Women and young people had higher antibody titers.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Fabrice Mambu-Mbika, Anja De Weggheleire, Francois Edidi-Atani, Junior Bulabula-Penge, Meris Matondo Kua Mfumu, Anais Legand, Antoine Nkuba-Ndaye, Yannick Tutu Tshia N'kasar, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, John D. Klena, Joel M. Montgomery, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Pierre Formenty, Johan van Griensven, Kevin K. Arien, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Summary: During the 10th outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale strategically positioned 13 decentralized field laboratories with dedicated equipment to quickly detect cases as the outbreak evolved. The laboratories were operated by national staff, who quickly handed over competencies and skills to local persons to successfully manage future outbreaks. Laboratories ana-lyzed approximate to 230,000 Ebola diagnostic samples under stringent biosafety measures, documentation, and database man-agement. Field laboratories diversified their activities (di-agnosis, chemistry and hematology, survivor follow-up, and genomic sequencing) and shipped 127,993 samples from the field to a biorepository in Kinshasa under good conditions. Deploying decentralized and well-equipped laboratories run by local personnel in at-risk countries for Ebola virus disease outbreaks is an efficient response; all activities are quickly conducted in the field.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Celestin Kaputu-Kalala-Malu, Eric Mafuta Musalu, Tim Walker, Olga Ntumba-Tshitenge, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Summary: The study revealed a high prevalence of PTSD, depression, and anxiety among EVD survivors. Factors such as being male, experiencing persistent headache, losing a loved one due to EVD, and being young were statistically associated with PTSD diagnosis. Short-term memory impairment and persistent headache were found to be associated with depression and anxiety diagnoses.
Article
Immunology
Jonathan A. Polonsky, Dankmar Bohning, Mory Keita, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Justus Nsio-Mbeta, Aaron Aruna Abedi, Mathias Mossoko, Janne Estill, Olivia Keiser, Laurent Kaiser, Zabulon Yoti, Patarawan Sangnawakij, Rattana Lerdsuwansri, Victor J. Del Rio Vilas
Summary: The study estimated the sensitivity of contact tracing during the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2018 to 2020, revealing that contact tracing efforts performed well in identifying case-patients with any contacts but were less effective in identifying case-patients with infected contacts. Suggestions were made for improvements and potential applications during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kelly C. L. Shaffer, Sean Hui, Anna Bratcher, Liam B. King, Rachel Mutombe, Nathalie Kavira, Jean Paul Kompany, Merly Tambu, Kamy Musene, Patrick Mukadi, Placide Mbala, Adva Gadoth, Brandyn R. West, Benoit Kebela Ilunga, Didine Kaba, Jean Jacques Muyembe-Tanfum, Nicole A. Hoff, Anne W. Rimoin, Erica Ollmann Saphire
Summary: The study found evidence of possible exposure to ebolaviruses among healthcare workers in the Mbandaka region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with certain positions showing higher seroreactivity possibly due to less training and limited access to personal protective equipment. This suggests that exposure to ebolaviruses may be more common than previously thought, especially among individuals with lower-level healthcare roles.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Mory Keita, Heloise Lucaccioni, Michel Kalongo Ilumbulumbu, Jonathan Polonsky, Justus Nsio-Mbeta, Gaston Tshapenda Panda, Pierre Celeste Adikey, John Kombe Ngwama, Michel Kasereka Tosalisana, Boubacar Diallo, Lorenzo Subissi, Adama Dakissaga, Iris Finci, Maria Moitinho de Almeida, Debarati Guha-Sapir, Ambrose Talisuna, Alexandre Delamou, Stephanie Dagron, Olivia Keiser, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Summary: The study evaluated the Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS) implemented in the Beni health zone of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the 10th Ebola virus disease epidemic. The system showed high sensitivity and specificity, with the majority of alerts investigated promptly and good demographic representativeness.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jude Mary Cenat, Cyrille Kossigan Kokou-Kpolou, Joana N. Mukunzi, Rose Darly Dalexis, Pari-Gole Noorishad, Cecile Rousseau, Daniel Derivois, Jacqueline Bukaka, Olea Balayulu-Makila, Mireille Guerrier
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of PTSD and related risk factors among individuals affected by the Ebola virus disease outbreak. Results showed a high percentage of participants meeting PTSD diagnostic criteria, with those living in rural areas at greater risk. Peritraumatic distress partially mediated the association between exposure to EVD and PTSD symptoms, while this relationship was moderated by stigmatization related to EVD.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Yibayiri Osee Sanogo, Junior Bulabula-Penge, Maria E. Morales-Betoulle, Patrice Fillon, Patrick Woodruff, Mary J. Choi, Amy Whitesell, Alison M. Todres, Anja De Weggheleire, Anais Legand, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Pierre Formenty, John D. Klena, Joel M. Montgomery, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Summary: After conducting a pilot study and testing 443 cadavers using the OraQuick Ebola rapid diagnostic tests, no false negative results were reported, but there were 2% false positive results. Quickly returning results and engaging the community enabled timely public health actions.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charles Beadling, David Brett-Major, Melinda Hamer, Kelly Vest, Timothy Muyimbo, Frederick Burkle
Summary: The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to agrarian communities led to infectious diseases becoming an increasing public health threat. The 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa showed that the international community was not adequately prepared, highlighting the need for greater readiness in prevention and management of such outbreaks.
DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Oyelola Adegboye, Ezra Gayawan, Adewale James, Adedayo Adegboye, Faiz Elfaki
Summary: The study analyzed Ebola outbreak data in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2018 to 2019, finding a positive association between violent events and reported cases and deaths, with a 2.4% and 2.2% increase in relative risks for each additional violent event. Additionally, clusters of cases and deaths were observed to spread to neighboring locations in similar manners. These findings are valuable for hotspot identification, location-specific disease surveillance, and intervention efforts.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Clara Drew, Moses Badio, Dehkontee Dennis, Lisa Hensley, Elizabeth Higgs, Michael Sneller, Mosoka Fallah, Cavan Reilly
Summary: This paper discusses various methods for evaluating diagnostic test results in the absence of a gold standard. The authors specifically focus on applying a maximum likelihood estimate for a latent class model using the Expectation-Maximization algorithm to longitudinal data where test sensitivity changes over time. They also propose two simplified nonparametric methods and compare their accuracy to the maximum likelihood estimation results.
Article
Virology
Zheng Wang, Richard S. Bennett, Michele Roehler, Geraldine Guillon, Mark J. Fischl, Mary C. Donadi, Jim Makovetz, Natalie Holmes, Toral Zaveri, Eamon Toolan, Heather L. Gontz, Graham D. Yearwood, James Logue, J. Kyle Bohannon, Lisa Mistretta, Russell Byrum, Dan Ragland, Marisa St Claire, Lisa A. Kurtz, Tiffany Miller, Michael R. Reed, Janean Young, John Lee, Lisa E. Hensley, Keith Kardos, Jody D. Berry
Summary: The OraQuick((R)) Ebola Rapid Antigen Test is a sensitive and specific assay that can be used for rapid detection of Ebola virus (EBOV) in humans. It showed high clinical sensitivity in various samples and can detect all known species of Ebolavirus. This test has better analytical sensitivity than other rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for Ebola virus disease (EVD) and has obtained 510(k) clearance. It can play a crucial role in EVD-specific interventions and control over outbreaks.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yu Cong, Ji Hyun Lee, Donna L. Perry, Kurt Cooper, Hui Wang, Saurabh Dixit, David X. Liu, Irwin M. Feuerstein, Jeffrey Solomon, Christopher Bartos, Jurgen Seidel, Dima A. Hammoud, Ricky Adams, Scott M. Anthony, Janie Liang, Nicolette Schuko, Rong Li, Yanan Liu, Zhongde Wang, E. Bart Tarbet, Amanda M. W. Hischak, Randy Hart, Nejra Isic, Tracey Burdette, David Drawbaugh, Louis M. Huzella, Russell Byrum, Danny Ragland, Marisa C. St Claire, Jiro Wada, Jonathan R. Kurtz, Lisa E. Hensley, Connie S. Schmaljohn, Michael R. Holbrook, Reed F. Johnson
Summary: This study compared disease progression of SARS-CoV-2 in three different models of golden hamsters and found that aged wild-type hamsters developed more severe pneumonia than young wild-type hamsters or hACE2 hamsters. The study also demonstrated that hACE2 hamsters presented with minimal to mild hemorrhagic pneumonia but succumbed to SARS-CoV-2-related meningoen-cephalitis, indicating the potential impact of the virus on the central nervous system.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
David X. Liu, Bapi Pahar, Timothy K. Cooper, Donna L. Perry, Huanbin Xu, Louis M. Huzella, Ricky D. Adams, Amanda M. W. Hischak, Randy J. Hart, Rebecca Bernbaum, Deja Rivera, Scott Anthony, Marisa St Claire, Russell Byrum, Kurt Cooper, Rebecca Reeder, Jonathan Kurtz, Kyra Hadley, Jiro Wada, Ian Crozier, Gabriella Worwa, Richard S. Bennett, Travis Warren, Michael R. Holbrook, Connie S. Schmaljohn, Lisa E. Hensley
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that rhesus monkeys infected with the Ebola virus exhibit pathophysiological features similar to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis syndrome/macrophage activation syndrome. Therefore, regulating inflammation and immune function may provide an effective treatment for controlling the pathogenesis of acute Ebola virus disease.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Anna E. Tseng, Mariano Carossino, Hans P. Gertje, Aoife K. O'Connell, Suryaram Gummuluru, Vijaya B. Kolachalama, Udeni B. R. Balasuriya, John H. Connor, Richard S. Bennett, David X. Liu, Lisa E. Hensley, Nicholas A. Crossland
Summary: The liver in rhesus macaques infected with Ebola virus shows altered myeloid phenotypes, increased neutrophil influx, and activation of interferon responses. These findings provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies for modulating the host's inflammatory response and normalizing hepatic myeloid functionality.
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James Logue, Robert M. Johnson, Nita Patel, Bin Zhou, Sonia Maciejewski, Bryant Foreman, Haixia Zhou, Alyse D. Portnoff, Jing-Hui Tian, Asma Rehman, Marisa E. McGrath, Robert E. Haupt, Stuart M. Weston, Lauren Baracco, Holly Hammond, Mimi Guebre-Xabier, Carly Dillen, M. Madhangi, Ann M. Greene, Michael J. Massare, Greg M. Glenn, Gale Smith, Matthew B. Frieman
Summary: This study demonstrates that the recombinant prefusion-stabilized Beta spike protein vaccine (rS-Beta) induces a strong immune response in baboons and mice, including protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Additionally, rS-Beta vaccine produces neutralizing antibodies against multiple variants. These findings suggest that rS-Beta vaccine could elicit a broad immune response to fight new and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jennifer Sword, Ji Hyun Lee, Marcelo A. A. Castro, Jeffrey Solomon, Nina Aiosa, Syed M. S. Reza, Winston T. T. Chu, Joshua C. C. Johnson, Christopher Bartos, Kurt Cooper, Peter B. B. Jahrling, Reed F. F. Johnson, Claudia Calcagno, Ian Crozier, Jens H. H. Kuhn, Lisa E. E. Hensley, Irwin M. M. Feuerstein, Venkatesh Mani
Summary: This study used CT imaging to identify abnormalities in the liver, spleen, and axillary lymph nodes that corresponded to the known clinical signs of Marburg virus disease in rhesus monkeys. The results suggest that CT imaging could be used to understand the pathogenesis of the disease and evaluate the effectiveness of candidate treatments.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luisa Santus, Maria Sopena-Rios, Raquel Garcia-Perez, Aaron E. Lin, Gordon C. Adams, Kayla G. Barnes, Katherine J. Siddle, Shirlee Wohl, Ferran Reverter, John L. Rinn, Richard S. Bennett, Lisa E. Hensley, Pardis C. Sabeti, Marta Mele
Summary: In this study, the authors characterized the differential features of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and protein-coding genes upon Ebola infection in macaques at the single-cell level. They found that lncRNAs are expressed in fewer cells than protein-coding genes, but they are not expressed at lower levels nor are they more cell-type specific. Furthermore, lncRNAs exhibit similar changes in expression patterns to those of protein-coding genes during Ebola infection, and are often co-expressed with known immune regulators.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Benjamin Ulrich Bauer, Martin Runge, Melanie Schneider, Laura Koenenkamp, Imke Steffen, Wiebke Rubel, Martin Ganter, Clara Schoneberg
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the co-exposure of sheep to three tick-transmitted pathogens (Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV). Serum samples from 1,406 sheep in 36 flocks located in southern German federal states were analyzed. The results showed significant differences in antibody levels against the three pathogens, and some flocks had sheep with antibodies against at least two pathogens. Controlled studies are needed to evaluate the possible adverse effects of co-exposure to tick-borne pathogens on sheep health.
ACTA VETERINARIA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Antonio A. R. Camaraeo, Olivia Luise Gern, Felix Stegmann, Felix Mulenge, Bibiana Costa, Babak Saremi, Klaus Jung, Bernd Lepenies, Ulrich Kalinke, Imke Steffen
Summary: The flavivirus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) can interfere with the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate T-cell responses, thereby dampening the cell-mediated adaptive immune response in human flavivirus infections. This finding is important for understanding the severity of flavivirus diseases and developing relevant treatment methods.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
