3-D images show weak spots of the Ebola virus

Researchers decipher the effect of ZMapp on Ebola

20/11/2014

Given the catastrophic nature of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, research into possible drugs is currently in full swing. Initial successes in the treatment of Ebola patients have already been achieved with the experimental drug ZMapp. Now, US scientists have in the trade magazine „Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences“ (PNAS) has published a study that unravels the mechanism of action of the drug and identifies possible starting points for other medicines for Ebola.

More than 5,000 people in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have already died in the wake of the Ebola epidemic, just under 15,000 have been infected, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Due to the lack of alternatives, the experimental drug ZMapp has been used several times to treat the infected. Apparently with success, because several patients survived. However, the mechanism of action was so far unclear. With the help of 3D images, the US scientists were now able to identify the weak points of the Ebola virus, to which the drug attaches and so claims to the „structural reason for the effectiveness of Zmapp“ decipher.

So far no Ebola drug available
The Ebola virus and related filoviruses cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans, in which up to 90 percent of those infected die. So far, no drugs are approved for the treatment, write the researchers around Erica Ollmann sapphires from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla (California, USA) in the journal „PNAS“. In case of Ebola outbreaks like the epidemic in West Africa, the helpers can only try to avoid new infections as much as possible and to relieve the symptoms of those affected. However, in the course of the current Ebola outbreak with ZMapp some promising treatment successes could be achieved.

Weaknesses of the Ebola virus shown
The scientists around Erica Ollmann were able to show exactly on 3D images the weak points of the Ebola virus, which ZMapp attaches to. "ZMapp apparently prevents the virus from entering the cells and, in addition, it causes an antiviral reaction" that alerts the immune system. „For the future, this work provides a good foundation for the strategic selection of the next generation of antibody cocktails against Ebola and related viruses“, the researchers report. It becomes clear where future medicines must start in order to enable a successful treatment.

Development of new medicines
So far, ZMapp has been able to help some patients, but some infected people have died despite the treatment. More efficient agents are urgently needed here. However, so far even ZMapp is not officially approved for the treatment of Ebola. First of all, further studies are needed to determine more precisely the effects and potential risks. ZMapp was developed by the pharmaceutical company Mapp Biopharmaceutical of San Diego, California, and the first clinical trials are scheduled for next year, the news agency reports „AFP“. In addition, other pharmaceutical companies and research institutes are looking for medicines and vaccines against Ebola. (Fp)