Hervé Bourhy - Publications#

200 publications (PubMed), more than 75 invitations to give lectures in international symposiums and conferences, 4 patents, h-index=46, sum of times cited: 6620 (Web of Science, All Databases)

10 major publications

(*: corresponding author)

Diagnosis of rabies

*Dacheux L, Reynes JM, Buchy P, Sivuth O, Diop BM, Rousset D, Rathat C, Jolly N, Dufourcq JB, Nareth C, Diop S, Iehlé C, Rajerison R, Sadorge C, Bourhy H. A reliable diagnosis of human rabies based on analysis of skin biopsy specimens. Clin Infect Dis. 2008 Dec 1;47(11):1410-7.

This study shows that skin biopsy specimens should be systematically collected in cases of encephalitis of unknown origin and that samples should be tested by PCR immediately to confirm rabies. It has a major impact on Improving the estimation of the real rabies burden in humans with the development of techniques for rapid and easy rabies diagnosis.

Rabies virus diversity and evolution

*Bourhy H*., Kissi B. and Tordo N. (1993). Molecular diversity of the Lyssavirus genus. Virology 194: 70-81.

*Troupin C, Dacheux L, Tanguy M, Sabeta C, Blanc H, Bouchier C, Vignuzzi M, Duchene S, Holmes EC, Bourhy H*. Large-Scale Phylogenomic Analysis Reveals the Complex Evolutionary History of Rabies Virus in Multiple Carnivore Hosts. PLoS Pathog. 2016 Dec 15;12(12):e1006041. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006041.

These two studies are still considered as the references for the taxonomy of lyssaviruses and the diversity and evolution of rabies.

Dynamics of rabies virus in animal populations

*Talbi C, Lemey P, Suchard MA, Abdelatif E, Elharrak M, Nourlil J, Faouzi A, Echevarría JE, Vazquez Morón S, Rambaut A, Campiz N, Tatem AJ, Holmes EC, Bourhy H*. Phylodynamics and human-mediated dispersal of a zoonotic virus. PLoS Pathog. 2010 Oct 28;6(10):e1001166

High resolution data analysis allowing the determination of the patterns of spatiotemporal circulation of dog rabies and exploration of the frequency of extinction and rescue events in a large African city (Bangui, the capital city of Central African Republic), leading to the evidence that rabies is not selfsustaining in this context.

*Bourhy H*, Nakouné E, Hall M, Nouvellet P, Lepelletier A, Talbi C, Watier L, Holmes EC, Cauchemez S, Lemey P, Donnelly CA, Rambaut A. Revealing the Micro-scale Signature of Endemic Zoonotic Disease Transmission in an African Urban Setting. PLoS Pathog. 2016 ;12(4): e1005525.

High resolution data analysis allowing the determination of the patterns of spatiotemporal circulation of dog rabies and exploration of the frequency of extinction and rescue events in a large African city (Bangui, the capital city of Central African Republic), leading to the evidence that rabies is not selfsustaining in this context.

Rabies post exposure

*Cantaert T, Borand L, Kergoat L, Leng C, Ung S, In S, Peng Y, Phoeun C, Hing C, Taing CN, Saman M, Ong S, Mey C, Choeung R, Ly S, Dussart P, Bourhy H, Tarantola A. A 1-week intradermal dosesparing regimen for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis: an observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019 Sep 27.pii: S1473-3099(19)30311-1

First proof of concept of the efficacy of 3 visits/one week rabies post exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This opened the way to the change of WHO recommendations regarding PEP schedules (a major advances since previous regimens were one month long.

Therapy of rabies using human monoclonal antibodies(hmAbs)

*De Benedictis P, Minola A, Rota Nodari E, Aiello R, Zecchin B, Salomoni A, Foglierini M, Agatic G, Vanzetta F, Lavenir R, Lepelletier A, Bentley E, Weiss R, Cattoli G, Capua I, Sallusto F, Wright E, Lanzavecchia A, Bourhy H, Corti D. Development of broad-spectrum human monoclonal antibodies for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. EMBO Mol Med. 2016 Apr 1;8(4):407-21

Characterization of two hmAbs with broad spectrum of reactivity against lyssavirus glycoproteins and demonstration of their efficacy in animals.

Hellert J, Buchrieser J, Larrous F, Minola A, de Melo GD, Soriaga L, England P, Haouz A, Telenti A, Schwartz O, Corti D, Bourhy H*, Rey FA*. Structure of the prefusion-locking broadly neutralizing antibody RVC20 bound to the rabies virus glycoprotein. Nat Commun. 2020 Jan 30;11(1):596 Elucidation of the function of these hmAbs and identification of the binding to the prefusion state of the glycoprotein.

de Melo GD, Sonthonnax F, Lepousez G, Jouvion G, Minola A, Zatta F, Larrous F, Kergoat L, Mazo C, Moigneu C, Aiello R, Salomoni A, Brisebard E, De Benedictis P, Corti D, Bourhy H*. A combination of two human monoclonal antibodies cures symptomatic rabies. EMBO Mol Med. 2020 Sep 18:e12628

Our findings provide the unprecedented proof of concept of an antibody-based therapeutic approach for symptomatic rabies.

Neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 and implications for long COVID-19

de Melo GD, Lazarini F, Levallois S, Hautefort C, Michel V, Larrous F, Verillaud B, Aparicio C, Wagner S, Gheusi G, Kergoat L, Kornobis E, Donati F, Cokelaer T, Hervochon R, Madec Y, Roze E, Salmon D, Bourhy H*, Lecuit M*, Lledo PM*. COVID-19-related anosmia is associated with viral persistence and inflammation in human olfactory epithelium and brain infection in hamsters. Sci Transl Med. 2021 Jun 2;13(596):eabf8396.

Some symptoms of Covid-19 can persist for several months after infection in the form of severe fatigue and neurological disorders (loss of taste, smell, cognitive decline). These symptoms could be due to the persistence of the virus and inflammation in certain areas of the brain and the olfactory epithelium would be an entry point for the virus to the brain. This hot paper was published in the past two years and received enough citations in September/October 2021 to place it in the top 0.1% of papers in the academic field of Biology & Biochemistry.