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Marburg virus pathogenesis - differences and similarities in humans and animal models
Kyle Shifflett1, Andrea Marzi2
1Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
Abstract:
Marburg virus (MARV) is a highly pathogenic virus associated with severe disease and mortality rates as high as 90%. Outbreaks of MARV are sporadic, deadly, and often characterized by a lack of resources and facilities to diagnose and treat patients. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments, and the chaotic and infrequent nature of outbreaks, among other factors, makes testing new countermeasures during outbreaks ethically and logistically challenging. Without field efficacy studies, researchers must rely on animal models of MARV infection to assess the efficacy of vaccines and treatments, with the limitations being the accuracy of the animal model in recapitulating human pathogenesis. This review will compare various animal models to the available descriptions of human pathogenesis and aims to evaluate their effectiveness in modeling important aspects of Marburg virus disease.
Insights
Marburg virus (MARV) disease is deadly, with no approved treatments. This review evaluates animal models for their accuracy in mimicking human Marburg virus pathogenesis to aid in countermeasure development.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pathogenesis
- Comparative Medicine
Background:
- Marburg virus (MARV) causes severe disease with high mortality rates (up to 90%).
- MARV outbreaks are sporadic, posing challenges for diagnosis, treatment, and countermeasure testing due to resource limitations and ethical/logistical hurdles.
- Currently, no vaccines or treatments for Marburg virus disease are approved.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare various animal models against human Marburg virus disease pathogenesis.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of animal models in recapitulating key aspects of MARV infection in humans.
Main Methods:
- Literature review comparing published human Marburg virus disease pathogenesis with data from various animal models.
- Analysis of the accuracy of animal models in representing MARV-induced pathology and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Identification of specific animal models that best reflect human Marburg virus disease.
- Highlighting limitations of current animal models in fully recapitulating human pathogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Accurate animal models are crucial for assessing the efficacy of potential Marburg virus vaccines and treatments.
- Further refinement of animal models is needed to improve the prediction of countermeasure effectiveness in humans.
