Jessica Menna

Biology 1610
Research Paper
May 3, 2016
Ebola
Ebola (formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever) is a rare and fatal
disease that can affect humans and nonhuman primates. Ebola is caused by
infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus. There are
five identified Ebola virus species, four of which are known to cause disease
in humans: Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus); Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus); Ta
Forest virus (Ta Forest ebolavirus, formerly Cte dIvoire ebolavirus); and
Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus). The fifth, Reston virus (Reston
ebolavirus), has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans.
(cdc.gov)
The first known outbreak of Ebola occurred in 1976 in Zaire. This
outbreak saw 318 cases of the virus in humans and 280 deaths. The next
known outbreak was seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1995
with 315 known cases and 250 deaths. Uganda saw the next outbreak
between 2000 and 2001. Uganda has 425 cases of the virus and it resulted
in 224 deaths. In 2007, the Ebola virus once again visited the DRC, this time
with 264 cases and 187 deaths. The mortality rate of these outbreaks were

88%, 79%, 53%, and 71% respectively. Combining all the aforementioned
cases, Ebola has had an average mortality rate of 71%. (cdc.gov)
Ebola can be contracted through an exchange of bodily fluids, such as:
blood, saliva, urine, and vomit, through direct contact in an open wound or
opening such as the eyes and mouth. It can also be passed through
contaminated equipment, insects, and primates. Symptoms include: pain in
the abdomen, chest, joints or muscles; chills, dehydration, sweating, fatigue,
loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, or vomiting blood. Humans are not
infectious until they start to see symptoms. First symptoms include, fever,
muscle pain, head ache and sore throat.
Once the virus enters the body, it targets several types
of immune cells that represent the first line of defense against
invasion. It infects dendritic cells, which normally display signals
of an infection on their surfaces to activate T lymphocytesthe
white blood cells that could destroy other infected cells before
the virus replicates further. With defective dendritic cells failing
to give the right signal, the T cells dont respond to infection,
and neither do the antibodies that depend on them for
activation. The virus can start replicating immediately and very
quickly. Ebola, like many viruses, works in part by inhibiting
interferona type of molecule that cells use to hinder further
viral reproduction. In a new study published today in Cell Host &
Microbe, researchers found that one of Ebolas proteins, called
VP24, binds to and blocks a transport protein on the surface of
immune cells that plays an important role in the interferon

pathway. Curiously, lymphocytes themselves dont become

infected with the virus, but a series of other factorsa lack of
stimulation from some cells and toxic signals from others
prevent these primary immune cells from putting up a fight.
(Servick, 2014)

Researchers are currently working on one, but as of right

now, there is no known cure for Ebola. Ebola causes a person to
bleed both internally and externally. Treatment options may
include: fluids and electrolytes, oxygen, blood pressure
medication, blood transfusions, and treatment for other
infections. The U.S. has not had an outbreak of Ebola thus far
and hopefully we will be able to keep it that way, but I believe
the research efforts are important and they need to continue to
work towards not only a cure, but also a vaccination so that the
world doesnt have to worry about Ebola anymore.

Sources
"About Ebola Virus Disease." Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18
Feb. 2016. Web. 04 May 2016
"Ebola Virus: Symptoms, Treatment, and
Prevention." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 04 May 2016.
"Outbreaks Chronology: Ebola Virus Disease." Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 14 Apr. 2016. Web. 04 May 2016
Servick, Kelly. "What Does Ebola Actually Do?" Science.
Sciencemag.org, 13 Aug. 2014. Web. 04 May 2016.