Viral Antigens
Product List
Ebola Sudan Protein
Ebola Sudan Recombinant Protein
Ebola Zaire GP
Ebola Zaire Glycoprotein Recombinant
Ebola Zaire GP is purified by a proprietary chromatographic technique.
Ebola Zaire Protein
Ebola Zaire Recombinant Protein
Ebola Zaire VP40
Ebola Zaire VP40 Recombinant
Ebola Zaire VP40 is purified by a proprietary chromatographic technique.
Introduction
Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe and often fatal illness in humans and nonhuman primates caused by ebolaviruses . The virus belongs to the family Filoviridae and the genus Ebolavirus. There are six known species within this genus: Zaire ebolavirus, Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Taï Forest ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, and Bombali ebolavirus .
Ebola virus is a filamentous, enveloped virus with a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genome . The virus is approximately 80 nm in diameter and 970 nm in length . It has a viral envelope derived from the host cell membrane, which is studded with glycoprotein (GP) spikes responsible for attaching to and entering new host cells . The genome encodes seven structural proteins: nucleoprotein (NP), polymerase cofactor (VP35), matrix protein (VP40), glycoprotein (GP), transcription activator (VP30), VP24, and RNA polymerase (L) .
The primary biological functions of Ebola virus include the ability to evade the host’s immune system and facilitate viral replication . The virus targets various immune cells, including macrophages and dendritic cells, disrupting the host’s immune response . This immune evasion allows the virus to spread rapidly within the host, leading to severe symptoms and high mortality rates .
Ebola virus enters host cells through macropinocytosis, a process where the virus is engulfed by the cell membrane . Once inside the cell, the virus releases its RNA genome into the cytoplasm, where it hijacks the host’s cellular machinery to replicate and produce new viral particles . The viral glycoprotein (GP) plays a crucial role in binding to host cell receptors and facilitating membrane fusion . The virus also interacts with various host proteins to modulate immune responses and promote viral replication .
The expression and activity of Ebola virus are regulated at multiple levels, including transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications . The viral RNA polymerase (L) is responsible for transcribing the viral genome, while the GP undergoes glycosylation to form functional spikes on the viral envelope . The virus also employs various strategies to evade the host’s immune system, such as inhibiting interferon signaling and modulating host cell apoptosis .
Ebola virus has been extensively studied in biomedical research to develop diagnostic tools, therapeutic strategies, and vaccines . Clinical trials have tested various antiviral agents and monoclonal antibodies, such as mAb114 (Ansuvimab; Ebanga) and REGN-EB3 (Inmazeb), which have shown promise in treating Ebola . Additionally, vaccines like rVSV-ZEBOV have been developed and used to control outbreaks .
Throughout its life cycle, Ebola virus actively evades the host’s immune system and suppresses immune responses to facilitate replication and spread . The virus infects various tissues, including the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, leading to widespread tissue damage and hemorrhagic symptoms . The virus’s ability to persist in certain body fluids, such as semen and breast milk, allows it to be transmitted even after the acute phase of infection .
