Re: Critical Protein Discovery Could Help Prevent Lethal Ebola Virus
http://alt1040.com/2011/08/cientifi...proteina-que-transmite-la-infeccion-del-ebola
Spanish to English translation
Scientists identify protein that transmits the Ebola infection
August 25, 2011 | 19:28
Important finding discovered by scientists from Harvard about the virus Ebola . A protein that helps carry cholesterol in the cells could be the key to the development of drugs against the deadly virus . So far there was no known treatment that managed to forward the progress of the same or cure.
Ebola, named after the river that is in the Congo, was identificadao first time in 1976 during an epidermis. The virus is extremely rare, causes a viral hemorrhagic fever, is a highly contagious infectious disease that affects both animals and humans. So far had not met its evolution palliative remedy once the infection started.
He had studied his presentation, epidemiology. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, urine, vomit or saliva. Once inside, the incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days, with normal 5 to 12 days.
Currently it is certain that the virus is alive in Africa , throughout the history since its discovery have emerged as two dozen outbreaks and strains in different parts of Africa.
The discovery of this protein places the lethal infection ( 90% die of infected people ) and their potential pathways of drug treatment in a new point. Sean Whelan, of the Harvard Medical School , the discovery:
Identifies a cellular protein critical Ebola virus needed to cause infection and disease. The discovery also improves the chances that the drugs can be developed directly to combat infections of Ebola virus
This new research suggests that the virus has a weak point in the form of the protein Niemann-Pick C1 , related in cholesterol metabolism and linked to the disease known as Niemann-Pick turn a disease caused by a genetic mutation of this protein. The researchers used these cells in laboratory tests and ended up discovering that Niemann-Pick C1 protein altered in 99% blocking the virus.
After the discovery, it is expected that this new understanding of Ebola and how they enter the cells can eventually lead to antiviral therapies or cures . Still, the researchers estimate that it will take some years before the treatments available for human use.
