West African Ebola virus strain less virulent than prototype 1976 strain
Comparison shows delayed disease progression
2015-06-09
(Press-News.org) What:
The Makona strain of Ebola virus (EBOV) circulating in West Africa for the past year takes roughly two days longer to cause terminal disease in an animal model compared to the original 1976 Mayinga strain isolated in Central Africa, according to a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) report. The results provide important information to scientists who have wondered if the Ebola virus in West Africa is becoming more severe. In fact, the new study suggests the current virus has a decreased ability to cause disease in their animal model compared to the 1976 strain.
Using cynomolgus macaques to model infection and disease in humans, scientists from NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) infected three animals with 1976 EBOV-Mayinga and three with 2014 EBOV-Makona. While both groups of animals were shedding virus three days after being infected, those in the Mayinga group developed a rash on day four and became extremely ill at days five and six. Those in the Makona group did not develop a rash until six days after infection, and severe disease appeared on days seven and eight. Further, liver damage -- typical in Ebola disease -- was delayed by about two days in the Makona group compared to the Mayinga group.
Of note, the scientists reported that the immune system of animals in the Makona group produced about three times the amount of a virus-fighting protein, interferon gamma, compared to the Mayinga group. They plan more studies of the immune response, but believe that at least seven days are needed after Ebola infection to mount an effective response. This response does not seem to develop during EBOV-Mayinga infection in cynomolgus macaques because disease progression is too fast.
INFORMATION:
Article:
A Marzi et al. Delayed disease progression in cynomolgus macaques infected with Ebola virus Makona strain. Emerging Infectious Diseases DOI: 10.3201/eid2110.150259 (2015).
Who:
NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., is available to comment on this study as are Heinz Feldmann, M.D., Ph.D., and Andrea Marzi, Ph.D., both experts in viral hemorrhagic fever research in NIAID's Laboratory of Virology.
Contact:
Ken Pekoc
kpekoc@niaid.nih.gov
301-402-1663
NIAID conducts and supports research -- at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide -- to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.
About the National Institutes of Health
NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov/.
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[Press-News.org] West African Ebola virus strain less virulent than prototype 1976 strain
Comparison shows delayed disease progression
