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Ebola Virus Origin and its Causative Agent

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Ebola Virus Origin and its Causative Agent

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Making its first appearance in 1976 in different parts of Central Africa, Ebola Virus is known for its horrid symptoms and high death rate in humans. It can cause diseases not only in humans but also nonhuman primates such as monkeys, gorillas, and bats. Ebola is caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus. Out of the five identified Ebola virus species, four are known to cause disease in humans: Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus); Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus); Taï Forest virus (Taï Forest ebolavirus); and Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus). The fifth, Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus), has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans.

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VP35 - Inhibition of type I Interferon induction

It inhibits the phosphorylation (attachment of phosphate group to molecule or ion) of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase that mediates cellular antiviral responses

VP24 - Inhibition of Interferon-Stimulated Genes (ISG) expression

Binds transporter molecules to prevent signal transducer and activator of transcription translocation.

The restriction of STAT nuclear translocalization prevents the establishment of an antiviral state in the host cells.

According to the National Library of Medicine, both VP35 and VP24 contributes of suppression of DC activation(dendritic cell: type of immune cell that is found in tissues and boosts immune responses) resulting in induction of impaired cell-mediated responses.

GP (Glycoprotein) - NF-κB activation (group of proteins that help control many functions in a cell, including cell growth and survival)

Leads to activation of pro-inflammatory responses

Has significant role in T cell activation and production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

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Ebolavirus is a negative-strand RNA meaning it must be copied by an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to make a translatable mRNA. It also has a twisted thread shape.

Although it can only be transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, it is highly contagious. The time after infection and before symptoms appear is 2 to 21 days. Humans with Ebola are known to not be contagious until symptoms have started. Fun fact: People who have died from the virus remain contagious.

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Infected persons who has the symptoms of Ebola or who has recently died from the virus may spread the virus. Ebola's mode of transmission is through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids such as vomit, diarrhea, urine, breast milk, sweat, and semen. Contaminated object or surfaces by body fluids of an infected person can also spread the virus. Ebola may be spread from sick or dead wild animals as well. Ebola is not airborne.

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According to CDC, symptoms may appear from 2 to 21 days after contact with the virus. The illness typically progresses from "dry" (fever, aches, pains, and fatigue) symptoms to "wet" symptoms (vomiting and diarrhea). The signs and symptoms include:

Fever

Headache and muscle/joint pain

Weakness and fatigue

sore throat

loss of appetite

abdominal pain

diarrhea

vomiting

unexplained hemorrhaging, bleeding or bruising

red eyes, skin rash, hiccups

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According to CDC. the most common health concerns for Ebola survivors are:

Tiredness

Headaches

Muscle and joint pain

Eye and vision problems

Weight gain

Stomach pain or loss of appetite

Some severe concerns also include pericarditis, orchitis (swelling of testicles), changes in menstruation, and PTSD.

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Ebola can be detected in blood after onset symptoms. It could take up to three days after symptoms for the virus to be detectable. Polymerase chain reaction is used as common diagnostic method because of its ability to detect low levels of the virus. When the virus is no longer present in enough numbers in patient's blood, PCR method is no longer effective.

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In 2019, the FDA approved the vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo®). It is the first FDA-approved vaccine for Ebolavirus. Ervebo® is a single dose vaccine for the ages of 12 months or older. The vaccine only contains one gene of the Ebola virus and not the whole virus, which makes it not possible to get infected from the vaccine. A booster is also available.

Some common side effects with Ervebo® includes pain, swelling and redness at the injection site, headache, fever, myalgia, fatigue, chills, and abdominal pain.

Although a vaccine is available, there are certain ways to help prevent transmission of the virus:

Avoid contact with items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids

Avoid contact with bats, and nonhuman primates

The most important prevention is proper hand washing.

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Ebanga™ was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a human immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody (made by cloning a unique white blood cell) targeting the Ebolavirus GP. According to FDA.gov, Ansuvimab-zykl neutralizes infection by binding to a region of the Ebola virus envelope glycoprotein that interacts with virus' cell receptor protein. To put it in simpler terms: Ebanga™ blocks binding of the virus to the cell receptor, preventing it from entering the cell.

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The first case, of what would become the largest Ebola epidemic in history, was reported on March 23rd, 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO). A total of 28,616 cases of EVD and 11,310 deaths were reported in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. 36 cases and 15 deaths occurred when the outbreak spread outside of these countries.

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Frequency of newly reported cases in Guinea provided by WHO beginning on March 25, 2014, through the last situation report on June 10, 2016. The numbers are a total of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases.

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Frequency of newly reported cases in Sierra Leone provided by WHO beginning on March 25, 2014, through the last situation report on June 10, 2016. The numbers are a total of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases.

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All Ebola outbreaks since 1976, including the largest in history, the West Africa outbreak.

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New cases on a daily basis in all three countries.

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Frequency of newly reported cases in Liberia provided by WHObeginning on March 25, 2014, through the last situation report on June 10, 2016. The numbers are a total of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases.

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Facts, History, and Features of the Disease

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Facts, History, and Features of the Disease

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The first outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire) in a village near the Ebola River.

The natural reservoir (host that harbors the pathogen) is still unknown.

Four of the five strains occur in animal host native to Africa.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, May 17). What is Ebola virus disease? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html

Deen, Gibrilla F et al. “Ebola RNA Persistence in Semen of Ebola Virus Disease Survivors — Final Report.” The New England journal of medicine 377.15 (2017): 1428–1437. Web.

Durant, O., & Marzi, A. (2024). Ebola virus disease sequelae and viral persistence in animal models: Implications for the future. PLOS Pathogens, 20(3), e1012065–e1012065. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012065

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Ebola Information | NCDHHS. (n.d.). Www.ncdhhs.gov. https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/ebola-information#:~:text=Ebola%20can%20cause%20disease%20in

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Yamaoka, S., & Ebihara, H. (2021). Pathogenicity and Virulence of Ebolaviruses with Species- and Variant-specificity. Virulence, 12(1), 885–901. https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2021.1898169

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ1h_-YSZcE&ab_channel=MartikkoMercado