Research Project: Viral Ecology of Henipaviruses in Endemic Settings and Intervention Strategies to Prevent their Spread to Domestic Animals

Location: Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Natural history of nipah virus in hamsters: Strain, route, and sex-associated variability characterized using large datasets to inform pre-clinical study design - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Davies, K.A., Welch, S.R., Coleman-Mccray, J.D., Sorvillo, T.E., Aida-Ficken, V., Spiropoulou, C.F., Spengler, J.R. 2025. Natural history of nipah virus in hamsters: Strain, route, and sex-associated variability characterized using large datasets to inform pre-clinical study design. Journal of Infectious Diseases. Article jiaf549. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf549.

A peer-educator driven approach for sampling populations at increase Mpox risk in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Implications for surveillance and response - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Comparison of EBOV GP IgG antibody reactivity: Results from two immunoassays in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Merritt, S., Halbrook, M., Kompany, J., Chandrasekaran, P., Smith, O.A., Hoff, N.A., Tambu, M., Martin, S.A., Wong, T., Jarra, A., Barrall, A.L., Musene, K., Beya, M., Orr, R., Myers, T., Macgill, T., Hensley, L.E., Muyembe-Tamfum, J., Kaba, D., Berry, I.M., Mbala-Kingbeni, P., Lehrer, A.T., Rimoin, A.W. 2025. Comparison of EBOV GP IgG antibody reactivity: Results from two immunoassays in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Journal of Virological Methods. 336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2025.115154.

Pan-viral ORFs discovery using massively parallel ribosome profiling - (Pre-print Publication)

Establishment of a regional Mpox surveillance network in Central Africa: Shared experiences in an endemic region - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vakaniaki, E.H., Merritt, S., Linsuke, S., Malembi, E., Muyembe, F., Lunyanga, L., Mayuma, A., Kwete, P., Kalonji, T., Madinga, J., Lebreton, M., Nakoune, E., Kalthan, E., Shang, S., Nwobegahay, J., Ehiakhamen, O., Dibongue, E., Kakou, J., Erima, B., Byarugaba, D., Kinzie, P., Mebwa, F., Baelongandi, F., Kayolo, A., Nabugobe, P., Mwambia, D., Malekani, J., Nguete, B., Kabamba, J., Kaba, D., Hensley, L.E., Kindrachuk, J., Liesenborghs, L., Shongo, R.L., Muyembe-Tamfum, J., Hoff, N.A., Rimoin, A.W., Mbala-Kingebeni, P. 2025. Establishment of a regional mpox surveillance network in Central Africa: Shared experiences in an endemic region. Acarology International Congress Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-025-00408-y.

Mpox in Central Africa: Complex epidemiology requires a constellation approach - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Halbrook, M., Makangara-Cigolo, J.C., Merritt, S., Hoff, N.A., Lisenborghs, L., Hensley, L.E., Vercauteren, K., Mbala-Kingebeni, P., Rimoin, A.W., Kindrachuk, J. 2024. Mpox in Central Africa: Complex epidemiology requires a constellation approach. npj Viruses. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-024-00081-x.

Clade I mpox virus genomic diversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024: Predominance of zoonotic transmission - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hensley, L.E., Kinganda-Lusamaki, E., Amuri-Aziza, A., Fernandez-Nunez, N., Makangara-Cigolo, J., Pratt, C., Hasivirwe Vakaniaki, E., Hoff, N.A., Lukanda-Ndelemo, G., Akil-Bandali, P., Sabiti Nundu, S., Mulopo-Mukanya, N., Ngimba, M., Modadra-Madakpa, B., Diavita, R., Paku-Tshambu, P., Pukuta-Simbu, E., Merritt, S., O'Toole, A., Low, N., Nkuba-Ndaye, A., Kavunga-Membo, H., Shongo Lushima, R., Liesenborghs, L., Wawina-Bokalanga, T., Vercauteren, K., Mukadi-Bamuleka, D., Subissi, L., Muyembe-Tamfum, J., Kindrachuk, J., Ayouba, A., Rambaut, A., Delaporte, E., Tessema, S., D'Ortenzio, E., Rimoin, A.W., Mbala-Kingebeni, P., Peeters, M., Ahuka-Mundeke, S. 2025. Clade I mpox virus genomic diversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024: Predominance of zoonotic transmission. Cell. 188(1). Article 4-14.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.017.

Optimization of Bangladesh and Malaysian genotype recombinant reporter nipah viruses for in vitro antiviral screening and in vivo disease modeling - (Review Article)
Lo, M.K., Jain, S., Davis, K.A., Sorvillo, T.E., Welch, S.R., Coleman-Mccray, J.D., Chatterjee, P., Hotard, A.L., O'Neal, T., Flint, M., Ai, H., Albarino, C.G., Spengler, J.R., Montgomery, J.M., Spiropoulou, C.F. 2024. Optimization of Bangladesh and Malaysian genotype recombinant reporter nipah viruses for in vitro antiviral screening and in vivo disease modeling. Antiviral Research. 231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.106013.

Presumed transmission of 2 distinct monkeypox virus variants from Central African Republic to Democratic Republic of the Congo - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vakaniaki, E.H., Kinganda-Lusamaki, E., Merritt, S., Kasongo, F., Malembi, E., Lunyanga, L., Linsuke, S., Halbrook, M., Kalthan, E., Pukuta, E., Aziza, A.A., Cigolo, J.M., Lumembe, R., Kabamba, G., Anta, Y., Bolunza, P., Kanda, I., Ngazobo, R., Kalonji, T., Nsio, J., Matoka, P., Mwamba, D., Ngandu, C., Shaw, S.Y., Shongo, R., Madinga, J., Boum, Y., Liesenborghs, L., Delaporte, E., Ayouba, A., Low, N., Mundeke, S.A., Hensley, L.E., Tamfum, J.M., Nakoune, E., Peeters, M., Hoff, N.A., Kindrachuk, J., Rimoin, A.W., Mbala-Kingebeni, P. 2024. Presumed transmission of 2 distinct monkeypox virus variants from Central African Republic to Democratic Republic of the Congo. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 30(10):2128-2134. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3010.241118.

Sustained human outbreak of a new MPXV clade I lineage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hensley, L.E., Hasivirwe Vakaniaki, E., Kacita, C., Kinganda-Lusamaki, E., O'Toole, A., Wawina-Bokalanga, T., Mukadi-Bamuleka, D., Amuri-Aziza, A., Malyamungu-Bubala, N., Mweshi-Kumbana, F., Mutimbwa-Mambo, L., Belesi-Siangoli, F., Mujula, Y., Parker, E., Muswamba-Kayembe, P., Nundu, S.S., Lushima, R.S., Makangara-Cigolo, J., Mulopo-Mukanya, N., Pukuta-Simbu, E., Akil-Bandali, P., Kavunga, H., Abdramane, O., Brosius, I., Bangwen, E., Vercauteren, K., Sam-Agudu, N.A., Mills, E.J., Tshiani-Mbaya, O., Hoff, N.A., Rimoin, A.W., Kindrachuk, J., Baxter, C., De Oliveira, T., Ayouba, A., Peeters, M., Delaporte, E., Shuka-Mundeke, S., Mohr, E.L., Sullivan, N.J., Muyembe-Tamfum, J., Nachega, J.B., Rambaut, A., Liesenborghs, L., Mbala-Kingebeni, P. 2024. Sustained human outbreak of a new MPXV clade I lineage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nature Medicine. 30:2791-2795. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03130-3.

Experimental inoculation of pigs with monkeypox virus results in productive infection and transmission to sentinels - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mantlo, E., Trujillo, J.D., Gaudreault, N.N., Morozov, I., Lewis, C.E., Matias-Ferreyra, F., Mcdowell, C., Bold, D., Kwon, T., Cool, K., Balaraman, V., Madden, D., Artiaga, B., Souza-Neto, J., Doty, J.B., Carossino, M., Balasuriya, U., Wilson, W.C., Osterrieder, N., Hensley, L.E., Richt, J.A. 2024. Experimental inoculation of pigs with monkeypox virus results in productive infection and transmission to sentinels. Emerging Microbes & Infections. 13. Article 2352434. https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2024.2352434.

Co-circulating monkeypox and swinepox viruses, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2022 - (Research Notes)
Kalonji, T., Malembi, E., Matela, J.P., Likafi, T., Kinganda-Lusamaki, E., Vakaniaki, E., Hoff, N.A., Aziza, A., Muyembe, F., Kabamba, J., Cooreman, T., Nguete, B., Witte, D., Ayouba, A., Fernandez, N., Roge, S., Peeters, M., Merritt, S., Ahuka-Mundeke, S., Delaporte, E., Pukuta, E., Marien, J., Bangwen, E., Lakin, S., Lewis, C., Doty, J.B., Liesenborghs, L., Hensley, L.E., Mccollum, A., Rimoin, A.W., Muyembe-Tamfum, J., Shongo, R., Kaba, D., Mbala-Kingebeni, P. 2024. Co-circulating monkeypox and swinepox viruses, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2022. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 30(4). https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3004.231413.

Laboratory needs for research response - (Book / Chapter)
Hensley, L.E., Klena, J.D., Deboer, J.T., Montgomery, J.M., Mbala, P., Moses, M.E., Knapek, K.J., Olinger, G.G. 2024. Laboratory needs for research response. In: Sorenson, R.A., editor. Principles and Practice of Emergency Research Response. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48408-7_11.

Characterization of humoral responses to nipah virus infection in the Syrian hamster model of disease - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Scholte, F.E., Spiropoulou, C.F., Rodriguez, S.E., Davies, K.A., Genzer, S.C., Coleman-Mccray, J.D., Harmon, J.R., Sorvillo, T.E., Lo, M.K., Welch, S.R., Karasslan, E., Bergeron, E., Montgomery, J.M., Spengler, J.R. 2024. Characterization of humoral responses to nipah virus infection in the Syrian hamster model of disease. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 230(2):438-443. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiad557.

Optimal reference genes for RNA tissue analysis in small animal models of hemorrhagic fever viruses - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Davies, K.A., Welch, S.R., Sorvillo, T.E., Coleman-Mccray, J.D., Martin, M., Brignone, J.M., Montgomery, J.M., Spiropoulou, C.F., Spengler, J.R. 2023. Optimal reference genes for RNA tissue analysis in small animal models of hemorrhagic fever viruses. Scientific Reports. 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45740-w.

Single-dose mucosal replicon-particle vaccine protects against lethal nipah virus infection up to 3 days after vaccination - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Davies, K.A., Spengler, J.R., Genzer, S.C., Coleman-Mccray, J.D., Harmon, J.R., Sorvillo, T.E., Scholte, F.E., Rodriguez, S.E., O'Neal, T., Ritter, J.M., Ficarra, G., Kainulainen, M.H., Karaaslan, E., Welch, S.R., Bergeron, E., Goldsmith, C.S., Lo, M.K., Nichol, S.T., Montgomery, J.M., Spiropoulou, C. 2023. Single-dose mucosal replicon-particle vaccine protects against lethal nipah virus infection up to 3 days after vaccination. Science Advances. 9(31). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adh4057.