Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41406099›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of Lassa fever vaccines: A living systematic review and landscape analysis of vaccine candidates.

Ariel Bardach, Mabel Berrueta, Agustín Ciapponi, Juan M Sambade, Noelia Castellana, Jamile Ballivian, Martín Brizuela, Julieta Caravario, Daniel Comande, Esteban Couto and 10 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Ariel BardachArgentine Cochrane Center, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4437-0073
Mabel BerruetaDepartment of Mother and Child Health, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Agustín CiapponiArgentine Cochrane Center, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Juan M SambadeInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6277-2469
Noelia CastellanaInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Jamile BallivianInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2495-8040
Martín BrizuelaInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2113-449X
Julieta CaravarioInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Daniel ComandeInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7111-5169
Esteban CoutoInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Agustina MazzoniInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Vanesa OrtegaInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Edward P K ParkerDepartment for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Florencia SalvaInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Katharina StegelmannInstitute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
John S SchieffelinDepartment of Epidemiology, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
Xu XiongDepartment of Epidemiology, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
Andy StergachisUniversity of Washington Schools of Pharmacy and Public Health, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Flor M MunozDepartments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Pierre BuekensDepartment of Epidemiology, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLassa fever (LF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa, representing significant public health challenges, particularly for pregnant persons and children who experience higher morbidity and mortality. Although several vaccine candidates are being developed, no LF vaccine has been licensed yet.

methodsWe conducted a living systematic review (LSR) of the literature to evaluate the safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and immunogenicity of LF vaccines. We performed biweekly searches in major biomedical databases, trial registries, preprint servers, and other sources. Eligible studies included preclinical studies, clinical trials, and observational studies published from January 2014 to April 2025. Reviewer pairs screened studies extracted data (REDCap), and assessed risk of bias independently. Data synthesis involved random-effects pairwise and proportion meta-analyses (R software), with GRADE assessment of evidence certainty. PROSPERO registries: (CRD42024514513; CRD42024516754).

resultsSearches retrieved 1423 records, including 51 studies, 2 clinical trials in adults involving 88 vaccinated persons, and 49 preclinical studies of 30 vaccine candidates. Trials evaluated Recombinant Measles-Vectored (MV-LASV) and Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-based (rVSVΔG-LASV-GPC) LF vaccine candidates. No published clinical trials were found to evaluate LF vaccines in special populations such as pregnant persons, infants, children, or adolescents. Although injection site reactogenicity was reported, no vaccine-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in study participants. Immunogenicity was robust in adults, with vaccines achieving around 95% seroconversion at 30 days. Preclinical data evaluated nine different platforms. Findings are disseminated via an interactive online dashboard (https://safeinpregnancy.org/living-systematic-review-lassa/).

conclusionCurrently, two LF vaccine candidates that have advanced to clinical trials exhibit high immunogenicity, but the safety profile in healthy adults is still limited. Clinical evidence in pregnant persons, infants, children, and adolescents is absent. Vaccine platforms of interest have been identified in preclinical studies, providing information on those that could advance to clinical studies.

Indexed as

Immunogenicity, VaccineLassa FeverLassa virusViral VaccinesAdultFemaleHumansPregnancyVaccine EfficacyViral Vaccines

Identifiers

PMID41406099
PMCPMC12711090

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.