Rush, R. E. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Oropouche virus causes acute hepatitis in mice controlled by Type I interferons

Oropouche virus (OROV), a member of the Peribunyaviridae family endemic to South America, is a current public health threat. The recent OROV outbreak driven by a novel reassortant has caused a dramatic increase in cases in 2024 (13,785 in Brazil, versus only 261 from 2015-2022) with sustained levels of transmission in 2025. Previously underreported outcomes have been recognized including miscarriage, microcephaly, encephalitis, and death. OROV lethality in humans has been attributed to severe coagulopathy with liver involvement, and epidemiological data suggests acute hepatitis occurs in mild cases of Oropouche fever, highlighting the underrecognized role of the liver in OROV pathogenesis. We present two discrete mouse models of OROV hepatic disease -- a lethal model that recapitulates the severe coagulopathy seen in fatal human cases and a model of self-resolving acute hepatitis which recapitulates mild human disease. OROV causes focal hepatic necrosis in mice, which progresses to massive necrosis and death when the Type I interferon receptor is antagonized. Additionally, we found a contemporary OROV isolate is less pathogenic in mice than a historic prototypical strain. These studies enhance our understanding of OROV pathogenesis and pave the way for potential therapeutic development and evaluation. ImportanceThe disease burden of Oropouche fever has been underrecognized and underreported, as highlighted by the increased testing seen in the ongoing outbreak. Specifically, the role of the liver in Oropouche virus pathogenesis has been neglected. Given the ongoing outbreak and increase in severe disease manifestations, there is a present need to understand Oropouche virus pathogenesis and test potential therapeutics. The mouse models of Oropouche-induced hepatitis presented here provide a means to understand how Oropouche virus causes liver damage in both a lethal and sublethal context. These models will be useful for the preclinical evaluation of vaccines and therapeutic treatments. Additionally, we compare the pathogenicity of a historical Oropouche virus isolate to a contemporary human isolate in a lethal mouse model. This represents an additional step towards understanding whether the circulating Oropouche virus isolates are uniquely more pathogenic or if increased testing has highlighted previously unreported outcomes.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Lrp1 facilitates infection of neurons by Jamestown Canyon virus

Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) is a bunyavirus and arbovirus responsible for neuroinvasive disease in the United States. Little is known about JCV pathogenesis, and no host factors required for cellular infection have been identified. Recently, we identified low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 1 (Lrp1) as a host entry factor for two other bunyaviruses Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and Oropouche virus (OROV). Here, we assessed the role of Lrp1 in mediating JCV cellular infection of neurons. Both neuronal and non-neuronal immortalized cell lines deficient for Lrp1 displayed reduction in infection with JCV, and early stages of infection such as binding and internalization were impacted by lack of Lrp1. In primary rat neurons, Lrp1 was highly expressed, and the neurons were highly permissive for JCV infection. Treatment of primary neurons with recombinant receptor-associated protein (RAP), a high affinity ligand for Lrp1, resulted in reduced infectivity with JCV. In addition, pretreatment of cells with RVFV Gn inhibited JCV infection, suggesting that the two viruses may share overlapping binding sites. These results provide compelling evidence that Lrp1 is an important cellular factor for efficient infection by JCV, and thus multiple bunyaviruses with varying clinical manifestations and tissue tropism are facilitated by the host cell Lrp1. Reliance of multiple bunyaviruses on Lrp1 makes it a promising target for pan-bunyaviral antivirals and therapeutics.

microbiology↗