Researchers have just discovered how the Ebola viral protein blocks the immune system first, and then panics it. A useful mechanism for developing future drugs.
Researchers are on a mad rush to find a cure or vaccine for the Ebola virus. While the hemorrhagic fever epidemic currently raging in West Africa has claimed more than 1,000 lives, unauthorized treatments are currently being administered to some patients. But in order to find a safe and effective treatment, it is also necessary to learn more about the Ebola virus. A study that has just appeared in the journal Cell Host & Microbe allows you to refine your portrait.
The immune system does not defend itself
Researchers from the University of Saint-Louis in collaboration with a team from Mount Sinai and the University of Texas have just shown how the virus very quickly blocks the immune system.
Concretely, one of the first reactions of an organism confronted with a viral infection is to release proteins called interferons, whose mission is to amplify the immune response and therefore to fight against the aggressor.
“Our study is the first to show how the production by the virus of the Ebola 24 protein, VP 24, stops the signals sent by interferons, which are key molecules to activate an early response of the body to the Ebola virus” says Christopher F. Basler, study author and professor of microbiology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Suddenly, the virus can grow in large quantities, which then triggers an overly strong immune system response which damages organs and often leads to death.
“We have known for a long time that infection with the Ebola virus obstructs an important arm in our immune system which is activated by molecules called interferons,” said lead author Gaya Amarasinghe, assistant professor of pathology and immunology at the University of Washington Faculty of Medicine in St. Louis. “But, by determining the structure of the viral protein forming a complex with a cellular transporter, we learned how Ebola does this. “
On the trail of an antibody against Ebola
These new data are already being used to carry out work for the development of a drug, but this research is still very preliminary. For Dr. Basler, it could be possible to develop an antibody or a molecule that would interfere with the viral protein of Ebola. Interferon treatment of hepatitis C patients could, for example, be useful against Ebola. “We see the urgency of the situation,” said Dr Basler, “but we still need to do research to develop safe, effective and ready-to-use drugs for future epidemics.”
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