Arenavirus – Lassa

Arenavirus is a bi- or trisegmented ambisense RNA virus, and occasionally infect humans.  At least 8 arenaviruses are known to cause human disease, including Lassa virus (LASV) causing Lassa fever that is a severe hemorrhagic manifestations. The glycoprotein complex (GPC) including GP1, GP2 and an unusual stable signal peptide (SSP)12 is responsible for receptor binding and fusion of the virion with a cell membrane.