Download Ebola strain variation in outbreaks

Christopher Papia
Take home #1
Dr. Gallo
The Ebola virus (EBOV) is one the most lethal pathogens with a structure similar to a
filovirus. Its length varies from 800-1000 nm long and roughly 288 amino acids long. The
amount of attenuations is what makes this particular virus so interesting, and deadly. Virons are
generally tubular and can appear as coiled, circular or branched. Their genome consists of single
stranded negative RNA, roughly 19,000 nucleotides in length. Like other –ssRNA viruses,
EBOV get endocytosed into host cells through glycoprotein surface peplomers. Once inside the
host cell, the –ssRNA is used as a template to produce monocistronic mRNA. Using the host
cell, the mRNA is translated into viral proteins. Once the amount of proteins reaches a certain
level, a complementary +ssRNA is synthesized and used as a template to rapidly produce more
-ssRNA. The viruses are quickly replicated and the envelope proteins of the virus attach to the
host cell’s membrane and lyse the cell.
There are five known strains of EBOV, all which are named from the places in which
outbreaks occurred. Zaire EBOV (ZEBOV) has the highest fatality rate (83% fatality over 27
years) and can infect humans as well as primates. Sudan EBOV (SEBOV) affects only humans
and has a fatality rate ranging from 53-68%. Reston EBOV (REBOV) was found more recently
in Reston, VA, and infected primates, pigs, and humans. What is interesting about this strain of
EBOV was that humans infected by this did not show any symptoms, but had made antibodies
against the agent. Primate and pigs on the other hand died from this disease. Côte d'Ivoire EBOV
(CIEBOV) was found in many chimpanzees and had symptoms similar to humans infected with
ZEBOV and SEBOV. Only one human became infected with this virus but survived after 2
weeks in the hospital. Bundibugyo EBOV (BEBOV) infected 116 people in the Bundibugyo
district and had a mortality rate of 34%.