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US scientists have discovered a protein present in human cells that can disrupt the reproduction of ebola virus. The disease, one of the deadliest, kills up to 90% of those infected and there is still no vaccine or medicine to cure the population. The virus has killed more than 11,000 people in East Africa during the 2014 outbreak.
According to research, there is a human protein, RBBP6, that can interfere with the cycle of replication of the virus in the cells of the body. . The mechanism works as follows:
- First, the Ebola virus enters the human cell. Scientists explain that in this cell, RBBP6
- contains two proteins that must bind one to the other in order to multiply – VP30 and NP;
- The researchers found that the protein VP30 virus and human RBBP6 protein can bind one to the other. When both are connected, the virus protein can not bind to its other NP, which decreases the reproductive rate of the Ebola virus.
- When RBBP6 is removed from cells, the virus L & # 39; study was published Thursday in the journal Scientific & # 39; Cell & # 39; and was conducted in partnership with researchers from the Universities of the State of Georgia and California, in the northwestern United States, in San Francisco. Gladstones Institutes.
But if this protein already exists naturally in human cells, why can not we fight the disease?
- "Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question," says researcher Judd Hultquist, one of the first authors of the study and professor of infectiology at Northwestern University. . "The Ebola virus, like other viruses, invades host cells and uses them to replicate, so human cells develop defense mechanisms against these viruses, but they evolve much, much faster than humans." this blocking of replication We still do not know how this happens, but we are studying, "he explains.
Contamination with the virus occurs through direct contact with the patient's blood, saliva or secretions. Today, there is an epidemic of Ebola in Congo. As of Tuesday (11), the World Health Organization had confirmed 457 cases of the disease in the country, with 250 deaths confirmed by the disease.
Another research, published this Wednesday 12 in the journal Science Translational Medicine, offers opportunities for rapid detection of the Ebola virus: a tool to diagnose the disease in 30 minutes. According to the researchers, current methods take one to four hours to make a diagnosis.
In addition, the test, developed by researchers in the United States, Guinea, and Senegal, also distinguishes disease from other diseases with similar early symptoms, such as Lbada fever. and malaria. A single blood sample is sufficient for the test to detect antigens for the three diseases.
Kleber Luz, doctor of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and international consultant to the Pan American Health Organization, has not yet been tested. differentiate these diseases.
"The WHO does not have a rapid test in its portfolio so far, this test should be done in the field and, if it delivers the expected results, it will be a major step forward, both in the where Ebola infection occurs, that you pbad the test quickly, detect the disease and keep the patient in isolation. "
The isolation, Luz explains, is necessary because even in the body of a patient who died of the virus, the risks of transmission are high.
In addition to the longer time to give the result, says Light, current tests can not be done where patients are. This is another advantage of the examination developed by the researchers of the three countries, evaluates Professor UFRN: the intention is that this is done outside the laboratories, in "end of treatment".
"Malaria, Lbada fever and Ebola are diseases that usually occur during epidemics in remote areas of urban centers, with difficulties in hospitals, health centers and laboratories," recalls Luz.
The research technology released on Thursday (13) does not need to be stored in cold temperatures and can be used in areas without electricity.
The scientists themselves who developed the tool warn though that further observations are needed. They underwent examination on 586 clinical specimens, including 190 Ebola.
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