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A Hamster Model for the Evaluation of Marburg Virus Countermeasures
1Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.
Abstract:
Wild-type filoviruses including Marburg virus (MARV) cause disease in humans, nonhuman primates, and some immunodeficient mouse strains but generally not in immunocompetent rodents and ferrets. However, disease in immunocompetent rodents can be achieved by serial passaging of the virus as demonstrated by the mouse-, hamster-, and guinea pig-adapted strains of MARV, which often cause lethal disease in the respective rodent species. These disease models present valuable first screening models for medical countermeasure evaluation against MARV, including monoclonal antibody therapies and vaccines. The MARV hamster disease model is of particular interest since the infected hamsters display almost all of the clinical signs of Marburg virus disease observed in nonhuman primates and humans, including petechial rash, hemorrhages, coagulation disorder, and dysregulated immune responses. This chapter describes a protocol using the hamster-adapted MARV in Syrian Golden hamsters for studies investigating viral pathogenesis or evaluating the efficacy of medical countermeasures.
Insights
A hamster model using Marburg virus (MARV) effectively mimics human disease, offering a valuable tool for testing new vaccines and therapies against this deadly filovirus. This model aids in developing critical medical countermeasures.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pathogenesis
- Medical Countermeasures
Background:
- Wild-type filoviruses, including Marburg virus (MARV), cause severe disease in humans and nonhuman primates.
- Immunocompetent rodents typically resist filovirus infection, limiting their use in disease modeling.
- Serial passaging can adapt MARV to cause lethal disease in rodents, creating valuable screening models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a protocol for using a hamster-adapted MARV strain in Syrian Golden hamsters.
- To establish a relevant model for studying MARV pathogenesis.
- To facilitate the evaluation of medical countermeasures against MARV.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a hamster-adapted strain of Marburg virus (MARV).
- Infection of Syrian Golden hamsters.
- Observation and analysis of clinical signs and pathogenesis.
Main Results:
- The MARV hamster model replicates key clinical signs observed in human and nonhuman primate Marburg virus disease.
- Clinical signs include petechial rash, hemorrhages, coagulation disorders, and immune dysregulation.
- This model provides a robust platform for initial screening of MARV therapies.
Conclusions:
- The MARV hamster model is a highly relevant preclinical model for Marburg virus disease.
- This model is suitable for investigating viral pathogenesis and evaluating the efficacy of vaccines and antibody therapies.
- The protocol enables standardized research into MARV and the development of effective countermeasures.
