Ebola virus poses major public health threat, researchers say (Representative)
New Delhi:
Scientists have discovered a new way in which the Ebola virus reproduces in the human body, identifying potential targets for drugs to prevent the viral disease.
The study also reveals how a deadly virus that primarily affects people in sub-Saharan Africa interacts with a human protein called ubiquitin.
“We combined experimental and computational (using computers) methods to study the interaction between the Ebola virus VP35 protein and ubiquitin chains,” said study co-author Rafael Najmanovich, a professor at the University of Montreal in Canada.
“Our team’s advanced computational model predicts the binding interface between the viral protein VP35 and ubiquitin chains in human cells and identifies potential compounds that could disrupt this interaction,” he said.
Ebola virus is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by multiple viruses of the genus Ebolavirus. Symptoms of Ebola virus start out like the flu but can progress to severe vomiting, bleeding and neurological (brain and nerve) problems.
The researchers say the discovery, published in the journal PLOS Biology, not only deepens our understanding of how the virus works, but also provides a promising avenue for creating more effective treatments.
“In particular, it paves the way for designing drugs that can disrupt this interaction and slow viral replication,” Najmanovich said.
Notorious for its devastating outbreaks and high mortality rate, Ebola poses a significant threat to public health, researchers say.
They say understanding the complex process by which the virus replicates in the body is crucial to developing effective treatments.
The latest research has revealed some of the complex molecular mechanisms of Ebola virus replication, revealing the key proteins and pathways involved in the process.
The researchers were able to elucidate the structural and functional aspects of how viral and human proteins interact in ways that are critical for viral replication.
One of the key findings of the study was the identification of an additional interaction with VP35, a multifunctional viral protein that plays a central role in viral replication.
The study reveals the complex interactions between Ebola virus and the host immune system.
By evading detection and subverting host defenses, viruses are able to establish a foothold in the body, leading to uncontrolled replication and severe disease progression.
“This study highlights the importance of trying to understand the complex workings of viruses like Ebola and developing innovative strategies to combat them,” Najmanovic added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
