Pathogenesis-+Lassa+Fever

The Lassa virus is a single-stranded RNA virus covered by an envelope of glycoprotein. The virus is known to replicate very quickly, while also able to control the rate at which it replicates.

The virus gains entry into a host cell by attaching to a receptor on host cells known as alpha-dystroglycan, which normally are used to attach to various proteins in extracellular space. The virus synthesizes glycoproteins on its surface which attach to the receptor.

Once attached to a host cell, the Lassa virus uses an endocytotic pathway to gain entry into the cell. Cells use endocytotic pathways to engulf various proteins and molecules, and since, in the case of the Lassa virus, the cell "thinks" it has attached to an amino acid, the cell engulfs the virus.

Once inside a host cell, the cell creates an endosome (membrane-bound vesicle) around the virus. The virus's envelope protein then alters the pH of the endosome, attaches to the membrane, and begins RNA replication.

The Lassa virus can infect almost every tissue in the body, starting with the mucosa, intestine, lungs, or urinary system before infecting the vascular system.