Ebola virus inhibited in cell cultures

When the Ebola virus enters the human cell, its only purpose is to copy itself, fast. First it must copy all its proteins, then its genetic material. But by inhibiting a specific enzyme we rob the Ebola virus of its ability to copy itself. And that may potentially prevent an Ebola infection from spreading.

When Ebola virus ravaged West Africa, where thousands of people died from the extremely infectious Ebola infection. Once you are infected, all you can do is hope that your own immune system is able to kill the infection, because there is no treatment for Ebola presently.

However, the researchers behind the new study have found what is called a new host factor for Ebola virus. It can be described as a small part of the host's-for example the human body's-own cells, which the Ebola virus uses to copy itself and produce more infection. The virus uses the host factor enzyme PP2A-B56 to start producing proteins. So if the researchers switch off PP2A-B56, the virus' ability to copy itself and produce more infection is never 'switched on.

When we inhibit the PP2A-B56 enzyme, we remove the first link in a long process, which ends with Ebola spreading. The Ebola infection in cell cultures where we have inhibited the PP2A-B56 enzyme is 10 times smaller after 24 hours compared to infections where we have not inhibited this enzyme. But because the researchers have so far focused on cell cultures, there is still work to be done before their results can be used to treat people infected with Ebola.

 Initially the researchers hope to be able to test it on animals and, in the long term, develop a drug that inhibits the relevant enzyme.The potential of the new discovery may turn out to work on other viruses too, because the structure of Ebola virus is very similar to the other filoviruses.
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The secrets of Ebola

In a comprehensive and complex molecular study of blood samples from Ebola patients in Sierra Leone. Conducting a sweeping analysis of everything from enzymes to lipids to immune-system-associated molecules, the teamfound 11 biomarkers that distinguish fatal infections from nonfatal ones and two that, when screened for early symptom onset, accurately predict which patients are likely to die.

Health workers collected blood samples from patients after they were diagnosed with Ebola and at multiple points thereafter.They obtained 29 blood samples from 11 patients who ultimately survived and nine blood samples from nine patients who died from the virus. For comparison, the research team also obtained blood samples from 10 healthy volunteers with no exposure to Ebola virus.
"Our team studied thousands of molecular clues in each of these samples, sifting through extensive data on the activity of genes, proteins and other molecules to identify those of most interest.

The team found that survivors had higher levels of some immune-related molecules, and lower levels of others compared to those who died. Plasma cytokines, which are involved in immunity and stress response, were higher in the blood of people who perished. Fatal cases had unique metabolic responses compared to survivors, higher levels of virus, changes to plasma lipids involved in
processes like blood coagulation, and more pronounced activation of some types of immune cells.

Pancreatic enzymes also leaked into the blood of patients who died, suggesting that damage from these enzymes contributes to the tissue damage characteristic of fatal Ebola virus disease. The study showed that levels of two biomarkers, known as L-threonine (an amino acid) and vitamin D binding protein, may accurately predict which patients live and which die. Both were present at lower levels at the time of admission in the patients who ultimately perished.

When Ebola virus leads to death, experts believe it is because of overwhelming viral replication. Symptoms of infection include severe hemorrhaging, vomiting and diarrhea, fever and more. In the current Ebola study, the team found that many of the molecular signals present in the
blood of sick, infected patients overlap with sepsis, a condition in which the body in response to infection by bacteria or other pathogens mounts a damaging inflammatory reaction.
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Ebola found in semen of survivors two years after infection

Ebola virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other
animals caused by Ebola viruses. Ebola virus RNA can hibernation in the semen of survivors for more than two years after the treatment of the infection.

 Researchers found Ebola virus RNA in the semen of men who had negative test after the treatment of the infection. Men who survived Ebola virus disease EVD are advised to use condoms until their semen has tested negative for Ebola virus RNA.

The presence of Ebola virus in the semen for 2 years after treatment shows that it has long-term effects on the affected people. In some survivors, the virus can hibernate in the male genital tract for long periods of time with potential implications for transmission.

Men who had Ebola virus RNA detected in their semen also complained of vision problems at a higher rate than male survivors without evidence of Ebola virus RNA in their semen. Case of Ebola hibernation in semen is common among older men.
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Human antibodies and Ebola viruses

After analyzing the blood of a survivor of the 2013-16 Ebola outbreak, a team of scientists has discovered the first natural human antibodies that can protect animals against all three major disease-causing ebola viruses.

Monoclonal antibodies, which bind to a specific pathogens and toxins, have emerged as one of the most promising treatments for Ebola patients.

Most antibody therapies target just one specific ebola virus. For example, the most advanced therapy -- ZMappTM, a cocktail of three monoclonal antibodies -- is specific for Ebola virus (formerly known as "Ebola Zaire"), but doesn't work against two related ebola viruses (Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus) that have also caused major outbreaks.

It's impossible to predict which of these agents will cause the next epidemic, it would be ideal to develop a single therapy that could treat or prevent infection caused by any known ebola virus.

 Both antibodies were able to protect animals (mice and ferrets) that had been exposed to a lethal dose of the three major agents: Ebola virus, Bundibugyo virus and Sudan virus.

The researchers also discovered the human genes that are the likely source of the immune cells that produce the two antibodies. These findings can
speed up the development of vaccines to prevent ebola virus infection.