Ebola Virus - Structure

I'm going to use this thread to describe what Ebola is like at the microscopic level. The images are from the web and are not created by me.

viralzone.expasy.org...

Schematic View



3D Computer Generated Image




Structure of Genome

en.wikipedia.org...

The EBOV genome is a single-stranded RNA approximately 19,000 nucleotides long. It encodes seven structural proteins: nucleoprotein (NP), polymerase cofactor (VP35), (VP40), GP, transcription activator (VP30), VP24, and RNA polymerase (L).[5]

originally posted by: Biotech2024


The EBOV genome is a single-stranded RNA approximately 19,000 nucleotides long. It encodes seven structural proteins: nucleoprotein (NP), polymerase cofactor (VP35), (VP40), GP, transcription activator (VP30), VP24, and RNA polymerase (L).[5]

The genome is important in knowing, since points of weakness can be found.

NP - nucleoprotein

VP35 - polymerase cofactor

VP40

GP

VP30 - transcription activator

VP24

RNA polymerase

Gene Order

The gene order is 3′ – leader – NP – VP35 – VP40 – GP/sGP – VP30 – VP24 – L – trailer – 5′;

Virus itself is anywhere between 800 - 1000 nanometer in size. A red blood cell is about 6000 - 8000 nanometers.

schematic shows where the individual proteins/molecules are in relation to each other.

flow diagram of virus

ebola virus has 3'-5' RNA, the human version is 5'-3' RNA and is called mRNA, intracellular mechanisms are dependent on RNA being 5'-3', so what Ebola does is it brings its own enzyme(RNA Polymerase) with it to convert 3'-5' to 5'-3' to get around this.

Favipiravir drug blocks this conversion from 3'-5' to 5'-3', the drug blocks the ability of the virus to duplicate its genome to useable form by a infected cell.

en.wikipedia.org...

Brincidofovir
Favipiravir
FGI-106
Lamivudine
TKM-Ebola
ZMapp

List of known Ebola drugs in development. Most of these drugs try to block the duplication of the virus at the RNA polymerase level.

originally posted by: Biotech2024
Brincidofovir
Favipiravir
FGI-106
Lamivudine
TKM-Ebola
ZMapp

List of known Ebola drugs in development. Most of these drugs try to block the duplication of the virus at the RNA polymerase level.

of these Favipiravir

en.wikipedia.org...


FGI-106, It acts as an inhibitor which blocks viral entry into host cells, different mechanism of blocking virus than nucleoside analogs.

en.wikipedia.org...


ZMapp appear promising. It is a 3 monoclonal antibody approach.


en.wikipedia.org...
en.wikipedia.org...

also this analog too, BCX4430

en.wikipedia.org...

Interesting information Biotech…….

The virus is a sixth the size of a red blood cell and extremely contagious……hmmm.

Actually people should stop worrying and accept that sooner or later we are all going to meet our maker..wether by ebola or a bus or falling off a roof or having a heart attack or etc etc…..

The best we can all do TODAY is to keep fit and healthy , eat less crap, exercise and use common sense…………hmmmm most of the west is screwed then in that case…..

Regards

PDUK

a reply to: PurpleDog UK

its not good to live in fear. We are very removed from the tragedies of others in our modern civilized life. The scope of suffering secondary to war and pestilence is unfathomable. We've all been lucky to this point to be living in USA, the US constitution is similar to the genetic code of the nation. As we violate it and transgress against it and mutate it from its original conceptual point, it will lead to the demise of this great nation.

VP35 is a immuno suppressor

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...

reston variant is not lethal. It means you could modify the current lethal strain and knockout the VP35 gene, destroying its lethality. The virus would replicate but not kill the host, giving the host enough time to develop antibodies against it.

a possible therapeutic option is obtain VP35 knockout strain of the current lethal strain, and use it as a vaccine with live knockout virus.

a reply to: Biotech2024

www.historyofvaccines.org...

a reply to: Biotech2024
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...
Ebola viral protein 35 (VP35) is multifunctional, serving as a component of the viral RNA polymerase complex, as a structural/assembly factor, and as a suppressor of host IFN responses (2). Therefore, a functional VP35 is required for efficient viral replication and pathogenesis; knockdown of VP35 leads to reduced viral amplification and reduced lethality in infected mice (14–18). However, limited information is available regarding how VP35 is able to perform multiple functions. VP35 contains an N-terminal coiled-coil domain required for its oligomerization (19, 20) and a C-terminal dsRNA-binding region (15, 16, 21). Oligomerization through the N-terminal oligomerization domain is required for virus replication because oligomerization-defective mutants fail to interact with the viral polymerase (L) protein (15, 22). Similarly, deletion of the N-terminal region or mutation of the coiled-coil domain abrogates IFN suppression by VP35, which can be overcome by tethering a heterologous oligomerization module to the VP35 C terminus or overexpression of the isolated VP35 C terminus (20). The latter observations suggest a model where the coiled-coil domain provides a critical oligomerization function, whereas the C-terminal region of VP35 interacts with host factors to block signaling that triggers IFN responses.

a reply to: Biotech2024

Interestingly the only one of those drug to be successful in the cure of the disease is ZMapp, now this trial vaccine is different from the other ones been manufactured.

it most be a reason why.

originally posted by: marg6043
a reply to: Biotech2024

Interestingly the only one of those drug to be successful in the cure of the disease is ZMapp, now this trial vaccine is different from the other ones been manufactured.

it most be a reason why.

ZMAPP will take months to years to bring up production levels to treat whole populations. The Ebola growth curve is exponential.
www.npr.org...

By mid 2015, 500 million people infected worldwide.

So just doing simple research we found there are drugs/vaccines that could keep people alive. The problem becomes production in mass quantities.

I'm going to look into detail how ZMAPP is produced.

replacing vp35 gene in the lethal strain using the vp35 from the reston strain, would create a genetically engineered virus that could theoretically provide immunity to Ebola's lethal strain.


Maybe I should patent this idea. I would give this away to the world.

a reply to: Biotech2024

Yes you are right, is not wonder that big pharma is no only testing possible vaccines but also treatments that can keep people alive while still be a carrier, just like HIV.

I wonder if you can find more information of the treatments that are been looked at, I know that anti viral like those for influenza are a possibility.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...

genome of Zaire/Ebola virus

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...

genome of Reston/Ebola virus

a reply to: Biotech2024

I remember that the people that got infested in the 80s from the reston did not die from the disease.

Also, now that you have a more inside view on the ebola that is been the one infecting people as today, what are your views of the implications of becoming airborne.

originally posted by: marg6043
a reply to: Biotech2024

Yes you are right, is not wonder that big pharma is no only testing possible vaccines but also treatments that can keep people alive while still be a carrier, just like HIV.

I wonder if you can find more information of the treatments that are been looked at, I know that anti viral like those for influenza are a possibility.

from what I have seen, treatments are aimed at generating the most profit per dose. Its projected to be a billion dollar market for Ebola treatments.