BY MATTHEW GU
7. Modern day
EVD is classified as a biosafety level 4 agent, as well as a Category A
bioterrorism agent by the CDC as it has the potential to be weaponised for use
in biological warfare (Borio, 2002) and was investigated by Biopreparat for such use,
but might be difficult to prepare as a weapon of mass destruction because the virus
becomes ineffective quickly in open air (Zubray, 2013). North Korean state media
has suggested the disease was created by the U.S. military as a biological weapon
(BBC, 2015).
More recently, in March 2024, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch
reported promising results for Obeldesivir, an oral antiviral drug. Unlike treatments
requiring intravenous administration, Obeldesivir can be taken orally, making it more
accessible, especially in resource-limited settings. Studies in non-human primates
showed that once-daily oral administration provided complete protection against
lethal Ebola infection.
8. Conclusion
Ultimately, Ebola is no longer considered a global threat, and I hope this article
provides you no matter how little or how much, some insight into the virus and its
devastating effects. Significant progress has been made in tackling not just Ebola,
but all viruses and this is clearly illustrated in the 2019 COVID outbreaks globally.
Our determination and ability to work together as a planet to combat disease on the
brink of collapse is truly special and I hope this article reflects this.
9. Glossary
Antibodies: Proteins produced by the immune system to identify and neutralize
foreign substances like viruses and bacteria.
Antigens: Molecules or substances that trigger an immune response, often present
on the surface of pathogens.
Biopreparat: A Soviet-era biological weapons program, linked to the development of
infectious agents for warfare.
C-type lectins: Proteins that recognise carbohydrates on the surface of pathogens
and play a role in immune responses.
Dendritic cells: Specialised immune cells that capture pathogens and present
antigens to activate other immune cells.
DC-SIGN: A type of C-type lectin receptor found on dendritic cells, involved in
recognising viruses like Ebola.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): A severe condition in which
widespread blood clotting occurs, leading to organ damage and bleeding.
Ecchymoses: Large, flat patches of bruising caused by bleeding under the skin.
Embalming: The process of preserving a body after death.
Endosomes: Membrane-bound compartments inside cells that transport materials,
including viruses, during infection.
Filamentous: A thread-like shape, describing the structure of the Ebola virus
particles.
Gastrointestinal haemorrhaging: Bleeding within the stomach or intestines, often
seen in severe Ebola cases.
Glycoprotein: A molecule made of proteins and sugars.
Haemorrhaging: Severe or uncontrolled bleeding.
Hematomas: Swellings caused by blood pooling outside blood vessels, often due to
trauma or bleeding disorders.
Hypodermic needles: Medical tool used for injections.
Integrins: Proteins on the surface of cells that help with cell adhesion and signalling.
Intravenous administration: Delivering medication or fluids directly into a vein
using a needle or catheter.
Lysosomes: Cell organelles that break down waste materials, including pathogens
engulfed during infection using hydrolytic enzymes.
Macrophages: Immune cells that engulf and destroy pathogens.
Maculopapular rash: A skin rash with both flat and raised red lesions, common in
Ebola infections.
Malaria: A mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites,
often confused with early Ebola symptoms.
Megachiroptera: A suborder of large fruit bats, believed to be natural reservoirs for
the Ebola virus.
Monoclonal antibodies: Lab-produced antibodies designed to target specific
pathogens, used in Ebola treatment.
Mucous membranes: Moist linings of body cavities (e.g., mouth, nose) that can
serve as entry points for the Ebola virus.
Negative sense: Viral RNA genomes that must be converted into positive sense
RNA to make proteins.
Nucleoprotein: A protein that binds to and protects the viral RNA genome inside the
Ebola virus.
Petechiae: Tiny, pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin caused by bleeding under
the surface.
Platelet: A blood component responsible for clotting, often depleted in Ebola,
contributing to bleeding.
Positive-strand mRNAs: Messenger RNAs produced by the Ebola virus to direct
the host cell to make viral proteins.
Primates: Mammals like monkeys, apes, and humans.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines: Signalling molecules released by immune cells to
trigger inflammation, often overproduced in Ebola.
Progeny particles: New virus particles produced by infected cells during viral
replication.
Purpura: Purple or red spots on the skin caused by bleeding beneath the surface,
larger than petechiae.
RNA genome: The genetic material of the Ebola virus, made of ribonucleic acid
(RNA).
RNA polymerase: An enzyme that the Ebola virus uses to replicate its RNA genome
inside host cells.
Typhoid fever: A bacterial disease-causing fever and abdominal pain, often
misdiagnosed as Ebola in endemic areas.
Vascular leakage: A condition where blood vessels lose fluid, contributing to shock
and organ failure in Ebola.
Viral nucleocapsid: The protein shell that encases and protects the Ebola virus’s
RNA genome.
Zoonotic transmission: The spread of a disease from animals to humans, as seen
with Ebola.
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