preventing Ebola infection

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Fort Detrick scientists may have found secret to preventing Ebola infection

Frederick News Post - Eckstein - & #8206;Aug 24, 2011 & #8206;

One protein key to Ebola prevention

Laboratory scientists have discovered that a single protein holds the key to the

Ebola virus infection which could help with future drug development.

Research by army scientists and collaborators at the US Army Medical Research

Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and published in the journal Nature

found that the cellular protein known as Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) may be used by

the Ebola virus to enter cells.

Ebola is one of the world's deadliest viruses and causes a hemorrhagic fever,

with fatality rates as high as 90 per cent in humans.

There is no current vaccine or therapy as, until now, little was known about how

the virus infects cells.

Two separate teams found that if cells do not make NPC1 they cannot be infected

by the Ebola virus.

Dr M Dye lead USAMRIID scientist in one of the studies said that the fact

NPC1 had been identified by two teams was important.

" This independent corroboration greatly increases our confidence in the

findings, " he said.

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