Holly Denner April 14, 2015 PB 414-001 The Cell Biology of Ebolavirus Ebolavirus is currently an area of interest, as a result of recent outbreaks. The exact causes and cellular biology are still not completely understood, but research is improving and new information is becoming available. The cell biology of the ebolavirus can be described by examining the pathogenicity of the virus and the variations in the types of host infection. There are three types of ebolavirus infections. They can be classified as either fatal, survival, or asymptomatic infections. These different classifications are dependent on the cytokines levels within a host, and the immune system of that particular host. A fatal infection is an infection that will kill …show more content…
This is achieved through the kind of cells that ebolavirus can infect, as well Ebolavirus is believed to target macrophages, dendritic cells, and host cell glycoproteins. It is the binding to the glycoproteins that allows the virus to bind to epithelial cells, by allowing the spread of virus to internal organs and causing cell death. [1] “The glycoprotein is exposed on the surface of the viral envelope and is responsible for entry of the virions through an interaction with a receptor in the host cell” [3]. The locations of the glycoproteins make it an ideal target for vaccines since it is on the surface, and therefore readily available to bind to …show more content…
Therefore ebolavirus must have an alternative method for entering the cell. It was proposed that that ebolavirus may enter the cell via micropinocytosis following apoptosis. Following apoptotic cell death, the surrounding cells are notified by the phosphatidylserine in the plasma membrane of the dead cell, and they micropinocytose the dead, virion-infected cell. As it is not uncommon for cells to consume cellular debris when surrounding cells undergo apoptosis, the consumption of this debris does not elicit an inflammatory response. The level of phosphatidylserine is slightly higher in a cell infected with ebolavirus, but not high enough to alert surrounding cells. This is an example of apoptotic mimicry, in that it uses existing cellular mechanisms and behaviors to enter a cell. This is also another example of what makes ebolavirus so pathogenic.
In the 1995 film 'Outbreak' directed by Wolfgang Petersen a deadly virus has appeared in different parts of the United States. A team combining of the Center for Disease Control and Army Medical Research Institute of Infection Diseases took the lead on the Motaba virus. Sam the Colonel of the institute took his team to a village in Africa where the disease had been located. The disease wiped most of the village out in a matter of two to three days and they found the possible host. Returning back to the United States Sam and his team came to the conclusion the disease is not airborne and cannot spread. The disease was created 27 years before but destroyed the Army decided to bomb the whole infected area.
This Radiolab podcast talks about how the HIV/AIDS epidemic started: the ultimate patient zero story, a very recent event that still hurts and still bleeds.
It is so lethal that nine out of ten of its victims die. Later, geniuses at USAMRIID found out that it wasn't Zaire! but a new strain of Ebola. which they named Ebola Reston. This was added to the list of strains: Ebola.
In Richard Preston’s “The Hot Zone” there is the overarching theme which is that nature is a power that dwarfs the achievements and power that humans possess. This lends to the consideration that humans should strive to understand the viruses and diseases that nature “throws” at the human race. Preston uses gruesome imagery, and characterization to persuade the reader to take the direction of overcoming the viruses and horrors of nature through research to better society.
In the New York Times interview of Richard Preston, the well renowned author of The Hot Zone, is conducted in order to shed some light on the recent Ebola outbreak and the peaked re-interest in his novel. The Hot Zone is articulated as “thriller like” and “horrifying.” Preston uses similar diction and style choices corresponding with his novel. By choosing to use these specific methods he is advertising and promoting The Hot Zone to the audience members that are interested in reading, and reaching out to those who read and enjoyed his novel. He continuously grabs and keeps the reader’s attention by characterizing and personifying Ebola as the “enemy [and] the invisible monster without a face” in order to give the spectators something to grasp and understand the Ebola virus. Along with characterization, Preston uses descriptions with laminate
...rticular protein, called MAVS, which is key to our innate ability to fight certain viral infections, acquires a self-perpetuating fibrillar form in cells that have become infected with virus and amplifies the cellular alarm signal. [7] This ultimately induces the production of interferons that recruit macrophages to combat the infection. [7]
Ebola, a virus which acquires its name from the Ebola River (located in Zaire, Africa), first emerged in September 1976, when it erupted simultaneously in 55 villages near the headwaters of the river. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and resulted in the deaths of nine out of every ten victims. Although it originated over 20 years ago, it still remains as a fear among African citizens, where the virus has reappeared occasionally in parts of the continent. In fact, and outbreak of the Ebola virus has been reported in Kampala, Uganda just recently, and is still a problem to this very day. Ebola causes severe viral hemorrhagic fevers in humans and monkeys, and has a 90 % fatality rate. Though there is no cure for the disease, researchers have found limited medical possibilities to help prevent one from catching this horrible virus.
Symptoms of Ebola include high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise, and sometimes internal and external bleeding. It is also classified as a class A bioterrorisim agent and a level 4 bio-safety agent. A category A bioterrorism agent is a possible threat to national security and spreads rapidly. It may cause public panic and require special attention by public officials. Its speed with which it kills a person compromises its effectiveness, as it usually affects a small town, kills everybody there, and then dies out. Other category A agents in...
Ebola can be spread in a number of ways. Ebola reproduction in infected cells takes about eight hours. Hundreds to thousands of new virus cells are then released during periods of a few hours to a few days. In most outbreaks, transmission from patient to patient within hospitals has been associated within the reuse of needles and syringes. High rates of transmission in outbreaks have occurred from patients to family members who provide nursing care without barriers to prevent exposure to blood, other body fluids such as, vomit, urine and feces. Risk for transmitting the infection appears to be highest during the later stages of illness. Those symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, shock, and frequently hemorrhaging. Even a person who has recovered from the symptoms of the illness may have the virus present in the genital secretions for a short time after. This makes it possible for the virus to be spread by sexual activity. Complete recovery is reached only when none virus’s cells are left in any body fluids. This is quite rare.
Beside the Ebola Virus, there are many other lethal viruses that are similar to Ebola and have similar effects, and fatality rates. One virus that is somewhat discussed in the book, is the Marburg Virus.
“The fruit bat may be Ebola’s ‘natural reservoir’- the creature in which the virus finds its primary home.” (p.15) The virus in bats evolve over time and cross over to another species. In this case, Ebola was crossed over into humans and the virus could become worse and worse as it evolves more. Therefore, the diversity of life is seen in the virus itself and the organisms who happen to obtain the
In 1976 the first two Ebola outbreaks were recorded. In Zaire and western Sudan five hundred and fifty people reported the horrible disease. Of the five hundred and fifty reported three hundred and forty innocent people died. Again in 1995 Ebola reportedly broke out in Zaire, this time infecting over two hundred and killing one hundred and sixty. (Bib4, Musilam, 1)
One of the current major concerns in the world is the outbreak of Ebola. Ebola is a infectious disease that comes from the Ebola virus and it can cause death if the patient is left untreated. The disease can be managed with treatment of the patient, however. Ebola is a disease that is a major concern in the Subsaharan African Realm, and in the North American Realm,but it is beginning to be dealt with sufficiently in the Northern American Realm.
At the start of this step B lymphocytes have already become activated and are now beginning to flood the bloodstream with free floating antibodies. However, to destroy the virus the body needs to activate other white blood cells. White blood cell activation can happen a number of ways. Some white blood cells such as macrophages, phagocytes, and B lymphocytes can easily recognize invaders and become activated (Delves). However, killer and helper T cells cannot identify foreign cells unless they receive help from other cells. T cells are activated either by antigen-presenting cells, or from the chemical signals that come from other cells (Delves). This happens when the antigen-presenting cells, give the antigen fragments to T cells after they are broken down, or when free floating antibodies from the B lymphocytes attract the T cells to the virus’s colonizing site (Hendry, et al. 39). The activation of both killer and helper T cells, enables the body’s adaptive immunity response to reach full potential, resulting in the increase of the rate and intensity of the response (Hendry, et al. 40). With the immune system activated and working at its maximum potential, the body can now move on to the third and final step in this process, restraining and eliminating the
The DENV envelope protein E, which is found on the virus surface, has a role as a mediating factor in the initial attachment of the virus to the host cell. Further, several cellular proteins and carbohydrate molecules that act as attachment factors interacting with the viral envelope protein E have been identified. These factors allow the virus population to concentrate on the cell surface thus increasing their chance of access to their target cellular receptor(s). Some of these known molecules that interact with the vi...