Saturday, August 2, 2014

Possible direction for genomic research to defeat Ebola


Anthony Sanchez, High Containment Laboratory Manager at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, was kind enough to respond to an inquiry from Etopia News about any possible means of defeating the Ebola virus on the basis of genomic weaknesses it might have.


He wrote back, in pertinent part:



“…there have been studies (by other researchers) that have shown the Ebola virus VP35 and VP24 genes are involved in immunosuppressive effects on the interferon pathway.  The products of these genes could be targeted for antiviral drug development, but that is something yet to be realized. “



According to Sanchez, this line of research “is something yet to be realized.”



What could be done to see that it is realized?  Soon.

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