Ebola virus mutates or affect the efficacy of new drugs

The 20th US researchers say they have found a genetic variation of Ebola occurred in the past 40 years, these mutations may affect the efficacy of drugs being developed for Ebola.

According to the study published in the American magazine “Microbiology”, the current most promising drug to Ebola virus gene sequences for targeting can be divided into three categories: monoclonal antibodies, small interfering RNA (siRNA) and phosphorus diamide morpholino oligonucleotide (PMO) drugs, which are based on 1976 and 1995 in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) epidemic of Ebola virus research, these two viruses and Ebola virus is similar to the popular types. But the virus will evolve, once significant changes, medication may not be so effective.

To this end, the US Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in collaboration with Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the current epidemic of Ebola virus in West Africa as well as the above two popular Ebola virus were compared. Studies have shown that the occurrence of more than 600 Ebola virus genetic variation is known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), which corresponds to about 3% of the viral gene sequence changes.

Ebola virus mutates or affect the efficacy of new drugs
Ebola virus mutates or affect the efficacy of new drugs
The study also shows that the more than 600 mutation in 10 variants may affect the efficacy of gene sequences of the virus for targeting drugs. And, of which there are three variation occurred in the Ebola epidemic in West Africa about one year. Based on this, the study calls for drug developers to verify that these mutations will affect the efficacy of their drugs.

Study first author, the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases Jeffrey Kugeerman in a statement, said: “This virus has been designed after the drugs have changed, not only that, it continues changes. Therefore, the need for timely assessment Ebola researchers efficacy, to ensure that resources are not wasted valuable in the development of therapy is no longer effective above. ”

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