Detection of Ebola virus shield in human cells

According to a study published in the journal Cell on December 13, scientists in the US have discovered a human protein that could help block the Ebola virus.

Medical staff injects Ebola vaccine for people in Mbandaka, DR Congo on May 21.(Photo: AFP / VNA).

Scientists from four Northwestern University, Georgia, California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Gladstone Research Institutes have used mass spectrometry - a technique for determining specific properties in a sample based on mass, to study the interactions between human protein and the Ebola virus protein. Thereby, clear evidence of interaction between the Ebola VP30 protein and the RBBP6 protein in humans.

Further structural and computer analyzes have narrowed this interaction down to a small peptide chain of 23 amino acids long. This small group of amino acids alone can disrupt the life cycle of the Ebola virus.

Co-author of the study, Judd Hultquist, visiting professor at Northwestern University, stressed that introducing the peptide chain into human cells could prevent the infection of Ebola virus. In contrast, when removing RBBP6 protein from human cells, the virus will multiply at a faster rate.

After this new discovery, the team of scientists expect to soon study and prepare a form of molecular drug that can "mimic" the RBBP6 protein, helping to increase the ability to treat and respond to Ebola outbreaks.