# Development of point-of-care testing for Lassa and other hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $396,959

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases pose a significant risk to human health. Among emerging pathogens,
hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs) pose the greatest risk in terms of the potential for morbidity and
mortality. These viruses are endemic in remote regions, produce large outbreaks that display high
mortality rates, and have a high potential become pandemics. One of the largest families of HFVs is the
Arenaviruses, which includes 6 DHHS select agents. The most well-known of these, Lassa virus, has
caused an increasing number of infections in recent years, including a 2018 outbreak in Nigeria that led
to over 100 deaths. In 2017, the World health Organization designated Lassa virus as a priority
pathogen for R&D efforts due to its potential to generate a public health emergency. Other hemorrhagic
fever arenaviruses, including Lujo, Chapare, Guanarito, Junin, and Machupo represent an increasing
source of concern based on their increased distribution and recent instances of human-to-human
transmission. Current diagnostic capabilities for Lassa virus and other arenaviruses are extremely
limited, especially in the case of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic assays. Here, we propose to develop a
POC diagnostic assay with the sensitivity and breadth of coverage required to diagnose Lassa virus
infections currently present in West Africa. In addition, we will generate single chain antibody phage
display libraries, broadly reactive high affinity diagnostic antibody pairs, a prototype assay chips for the 5
other arenaviruses that are Category A Priority Pathogens. We have previously used these procedures
to develop a POC diagnostic assay for Ebola virus that displays a sensitivity better than the current gold
standard, PCR. The successful completion of these studies will result in the first POC diagnostic assay
that is capable of detecting all Lassa strains of clinical importance and a panel of high affinity diagnostic
Abs and assays for all Category A Arenaviruses. In addition, the broadly reactive single chain antibody
libraries we produce could be used to rapidly generate diagnostic antibodies against novel arenaviruses
that arise as zoonotic outbreaks. This work will thus significantly improve our preparedness for almost
any future major Arenavirus outbreak with pandemic potential.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10499112
- **Project number:** 1R01AI170594-01
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL D GUNN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $396,959
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10499112

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10499112, Development of point-of-care testing for Lassa and other hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses (1R01AI170594-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10499112. Licensed CC0.

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