Ebola virus: immune mechanisms of protection and vaccine development. 2003

Adeline M Nyamathi, and John L Fahey, and Heather Sands, and Adrian M Casillas
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Room 2-250, Factor Building, Box 951720, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1702, USA. anyamath@sonnet.ucla.edu

Vaccination is one of our most powerful antiviral strategies. Despite the emergence of deadly viruses such as Ebola virus, vaccination efforts have focused mainly on childhood communicable diseases. Although Ebola virus was once believed to be limited to isolated outbreaks in distant lands, forces of globalization potentiate outbreaks anywhere in the world through incidental transmission. Moreover, since this virus has already been transformed into weapon-grade material, the potential exists for it to be used as a biological weapon with catastrophic consequences for any population vulnerable to attack. Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is a syndrome that can rapidly lead to death within days of symptom onset. The disease directly affects the immune system and vascular bed, with correspondingly high mortality rates. Patients with severe disease produce dangerously high levels of inflammatory cytokines, which destroy normal tissue and microcirculation, leading to profound capillary leakage, renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Vaccine development has been fraught with obstacles, primarily of a biosafety nature. Case reports of acutely ill patients with EHF showing improvement with the transfusion of convalescent plasma are at odds with animal studies demonstrating further viral replication with the same treatment. Using mRNA extracted from bone marrow of Ebola survivors, human monoclonal antibodies against Ebola virus surface protein have been experimentally produced and now raise the hope for the development of a safe vaccine.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004196 Disease Outbreaks Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS. Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000911 Antibodies, Monoclonal Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells. Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D012333 RNA, Messenger RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm. Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D014611 Vaccination Administration of vaccines to stimulate the host's immune response. This includes any preparation intended for active immunological prophylaxis. Immunization, Active,Active Immunization,Active Immunizations,Immunizations, Active,Vaccinations
D014765 Viral Vaccines Suspensions of attenuated or killed viruses administered for the prevention or treatment of infectious viral disease. Viral Vaccine,Vaccine, Viral,Vaccines, Viral
D019142 Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola A highly fatal, acute hemorrhagic fever caused by EBOLAVIRUS. Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever,Ebola Virus Disease,Ebolavirus Infection,Ebola Infection,Ebola Virus Infection,Ebolavirus Infections,Infection, Ebola,Infection, Ebola Virus,Infection, Ebolavirus,Infections, Ebolavirus,Virus Infection, Ebola
D023482 Bioterrorism The use of biological agents in TERRORISM. This includes the malevolent use of BACTERIA; VIRUSES; or other BIOLOGICAL TOXINS against people, ANIMALS; or PLANTS. Biocrime,Biological Terrorism,Biocrimes,Terrorism, Biological
D029043 Ebolavirus A genus in the family FILOVIRIDAE consisting of several distinct species of Ebolavirus, each containing separate strains. These viruses cause outbreaks of a contagious, hemorrhagic disease (HEMORRHAGIC FEVER, EBOLA) in humans, usually with high mortality. Cote d'Ivoire ebola virus,Ebola Virus, Cote d'Ivoire,Ebola Virus, Reston,Ebola Virus, Sudan,Ebola Virus, Zaire,Ebola Virus,Ebola-like Viruses,Reston Ebola Virus,Sudan Ebola Virus,Zaire Ebola Virus,Ebola Viruses,Ebola like Viruses,Ebola-like Virus,Ebolaviruses,Virus, Ebola,Viruses, Ebola

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