Lassa virus is a rodent-borne arenavirus that causes Lassa fever, a hemorrhagic disease endemic in West Africa with hundreds of thousands of infections each year. In this episode, Florian Krammer explains the biology of this ambisense RNA virus, including its segmented genome and how it interacts with the immune system. The discussion covers transmission through contact with infected rodents, human-to-human spread via bodily fluids, and typical symptoms ranging from mild flu-like illness to severe disease with bleeding, organ failure, and neurological complications. Particular risks for pregnant women and newborns, long-term effects such as hearing loss, and the overall case fatality rates are also addressed. The episode also highlights current limitations in treatment, the lack of licensed vaccines, and ongoing efforts to develop effective vaccination strategies.

‚Fever!‘ by John G Fuller describing the discovery of Lassa virus: https://archive.org/details/feverhuntfornewk0000full

‘The Lassa Ward’ by Ross Donaldson describing the situation of Lassa patients in West Africa: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312377014/thelassaward/

Multimammate mouse/rat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalmultimammatemouse#/media/File:Mastomysnatalensismammary.jpg

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Krammer laboratory information

Krammer Laboratory at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Science Outreach and Pandemic Preparedness

Ignaz Semmelweis Institute

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Conflict of interest statement

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has filed patent applications relating to influenza virus vaccines and therapeutics, SARS-CoV-2 serological assays and NDV-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines which name me as inventor. Mount Sinai has spun out a company, CastleVax, to commercialize NDV-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and I am named as co-founder and scientific advisory board member of that company.

I have previously consulted for Curevac, Merck, Gritstone, Sanofi, Seqirus, GSK and Pfizer and I am currently consulting for 3rd Rock Ventures (US) and Avimex (Mexico).

My laboratory has been collaborating in the past with Pfizer on animal models of SARS-CoV-2 and with GlaxoSmithKline and VIR on the development of influenza virus vaccines and therapeutics and we are currently collaborating with Dynavax, Inspirevax and Inimmune on development of influenza virus vaccines.

My work in the on immunity and infectious diseases in the US is supported by the National Institutes of Health, but also by FluLab and Tito’s Handmade Vodka. In the past I have also received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH and the US Department of Defense.

My work in Austria is supported by the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft and by the Ignaz Semmelweis Institute through the Medical University of Vienna.