Ebola Transmission

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Introduction

The Ebola virus is a relatively recently described, severe disease-causing pathogen that poses a huge threat to human health mostly within central Africa. This is, in part, due to its high mortality⁴ and lack of affordable treatment options. Ebola is considered a Biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) agent; classifying it among the most threatening pathogens that exist in the world today. Agents within this category pose severe threats to human health and can be fatal due to the lack of available vaccines. There are five known Ebola species within the family Filoviridae and all of the species within the family cause varying degrees of viral hemorrhagic fever illnesses.^[4]

Virus Structure and Infection

A closeup photo of the Ebola virus.

The Ebola virus has an RNA genome that codes for at least seven proteins and is enclosed in a nucleocapsid^[3]. Four of the virus’ proteins are thought to comprise the capsid. The capsid allows the transcription and the translation of the viral genome and is therefore the principle player in the virus’ pathogenicity^[4]. In addition, the virus has been shown to impair the immune function of the body by way of its infection of the phagocytic cells. The nucleocapsid and viral proteins move to new sites of infection and form themselves into virons where they can then go on to infect around the host body.

The virus forms many long rods and is much longer than it is wide and is often photographed in a hooked or curved form. The virus is around 80nm in diameter and can be of varying lengths ranging from 600-1400nm^[1]. Ebola does not produce its own cell membrane and instead steals some of its host membrane to survive. ^[4]^[2]
In recent study it has been indicated that the Ebola virus has developed several customized ways to enter host cells depending on the virus' size and what kind of cell the virus wants to gain access to^[1]. However, it seems in most cases the virus prefers to use macropincytosis, a form of endocytosis, which allows the cell to steal some of the hosts' membrane as it leaves. It seems that mononuclear phagocytes, hepatocytes, and endothelial cells are the cells that are preferred targets of the infection.

Containment and Transmission

Workers from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) demonstrating proper attire worn in BSL-4 labs.

Due to its classification as a level four safety agent, studying
Ebola in the lab is no small feat. Scientists who choose to work with
Ebola must use the utmost caution to prevent the virus' ability to infect
them while they conduct their experiments.

A map indicating the locations of Ebola outbreaks throughout Africa.

Possible Treatments

Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure

Conclusion

In today's world Ebola is still a huge problem that faces many developing nations within Africa. In 2012 alone there were 5 outbreaks of Hemorrhagic Fevers around the world and 3 of them were due to the Ebola virus.⁷