Integrated Downstream Analysis and Epidemiological Modelling of Hantavirus Infection: From Host Transcriptomics to...

Area of Science:

• Virology and Epidemiology
• Molecular Biology and Immunology
• Computational Biology and Public Health

Background:

• Hantaviruses cause over 200,000 human cases annually, leading to HFRS and HCPS.
• Existing models inadequately characterize host responses and rodent-to-human spillover dynamics.
• A recent maritime outbreak highlighted gaps in understanding hantavirus transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate molecular and epidemiological analyses of hantavirus infections.
• To investigate host transcriptional responses to Hantaan virus (HTNV).
• To develop and apply a coupled SEIRD model for hantavirus spillover dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic analysis to identify the etiological agent of the maritime outbreak.
• Transcriptomic analysis of HTNV-infected endothelial cells (HUVECs) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction.
• Development of a coupled Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered-Dead (SEIRD) epidemiological model.

Main Results:

• Identified *Orthohantavirus andesense* as the likely agent of the maritime outbreak.
• Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and suppression of ribosomal translation.
• SEIRD model simulations indicated reducing human exposure is more effective than rodent control for disease burden reduction.

Conclusions:

• The integrated framework provides insights into hantavirus molecular mechanisms and population dynamics.
• Interferon signaling and antiviral pathways are key host responses.
• Public health interventions should prioritize reducing human exposure to prevent hantavirus transmission.