Ebola Virus Research Paper

The Filoviridae family of viruses is where the Ebola virus belongs. The virus is distinguished by long filamentous structure which can present as straight, branched, and circular or a folded strand with a uniform diameter of approximately 80 nm but can be many different lengths. Liver cells, neutrophils, endothelial cells and macrophages are specifically targeted by the virus. Large quantities of cytokines are created by infected cells which solicits a large response from the immune system and interrupts normal habits of the kidneys, respiratory system, liver, blood and skin.

Ebola virus is a non-segmented negative strand RNA genome containing 7 structural and regulatory genes. Four virion structural proteins are contained within the Ebola genome as well as three membrane associated proteins. Early in the infection process the viral non-structural secretory glycoprotein or sGP is produced in large quantities. This
It was named after the Ebola River which is located in Zaire. Each of the five subtypes of Ebola are named after the location they were first identified and caused disease. The name of the five subtypes include Ebola Sudan, Ebola-Bundibugyo, Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Ivory Coast and Ebola-Reston. Of the five subtypes Ebola-Reston is the most recent identified. It was identified in research macaques imported from Philippines to Virginia during 2004 as well as in Texas during 2006. During research it was discovered that animals in both cases were from the same area where guinea pigs were found infected with the same strain in the Philippines. However, the subtypes Ebola-Ivory Coast and Ebola-Reston can infect humans, there symptoms are manifested by infection associated with other subtypes are not seen or have any mortality rates for humans reported. Ebola-Zaire and Ebola-Sudan are the most lethal subtypes due to their mortality rates reaching upwards at 90% and