Discover how Ebola disables the immune system

Ebola virus neutralizes VP24 - protein protein, which prevents the spread of virus from one cell to another, thereby repelling the body's immune system.

The Ebola epidemic is still spreading in West Africa. The latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) have recorded, so far, more than 1,000 people have died, including the Spanish pastor - the first European victim infection with this deadly virus.

Recently, Ebola virus scientists have published results when they discover how Ebola virus has disabled human immune system.

Accordingly, the American expert discovered that Ebola virus carries a protein called VP24 that interferes with interferon molecules (IFN) - the protein produced by body cells when attacked by viruses, to prevent Do not let the virus grow.

Researcher Chris Basler of Icahn Medical School in Mount Sinai (New York) said: "One of the important reasons that Ebola virus is becoming increasingly dangerous is because it breaks down the body's immune response. The discovery of VP24 will help us study methods to defeat this Ebola virus ".

Leading the research, Gaya Amarasinghe of the Washington University School of Medicine shared, VP24 works by blocking the development of protein STAT 1 - a protein that does not inhibit the self-destruction of cells.

Virus researcher Ben Neuman added: " The Ebola virus has disabled a protein - which functions to prevent the spread of virus from one cell to another, thereby repelling the body's immune system." .

Ebola disease is currently raging in West Africa and has a 90% death rate. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine to prevent this disease.

Although a serum called Zmapp has been used for two American patients and has yielded quite satisfactory results, the World Health Council has not yet officially decided whether to use this drug for treatment. for people who are sick in West Africa or not because the amount of medicine is very limited. If they want more Zmapp, they have to wait for several months.

But with the discovery of VP24, American experts hope they will soon be able to successfully research specific medicines, helping to repel the killer virus.