Researchers at the University of Liverpool have made a discovery that can lead to a cure for the deadly Ebola virus.
Since the epidemic broke out in West Africa early this year, scientists and medical experts have been trying hard to fight the deadly virus and limit it’s outspread. But all the hard efforts turned to be of very less help till date.
Only experimental drugs have been used to treat the victims of this deadly virus though some of the drugs have shown some positive results.
However, a team from the Health Protection Research Unit at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health, said they have stumbled across an existing drug used in the treatment of severe heart disease, which could be adapted to fight the contagious Ebola virus.
According to reports, in collaboration with Public Health England, the team has been looking at how Ebola virus hijacks proteins inside cells, and then seeking ways to stop this from happening.
It was gathered that the experts looked at what proteins inside a cell are critical for the functions of Ebola virus and are hijacked by the virus to help with infection. One of the proteins they have targeted is known as VP24.
This protein disrupts signaling in infected human cells and disrupts the body’s immune system and the fight against the virus.
The Liverpool team then tried to find out if any existing drugs are available that could block the function of this particular protein.
And to their amazement they found the heart drug ‘ouabain’. This drug when administered can reduce the virus’ replication.
According to the team, further tests need to be done to ascertain the efficacy of the drug, but as the heart drug is already in use, much of the work to test whether it is safe for humans has already been completed.
This, they said, would potentially speed up the time it could take get the treatment to Ebola patients in need.
Speaking on their study, Julian Hiscox from the university’s Institute of Infection and Global Health, who led the research, said: “This study shows how existing therapeutics can be identified and potentially repurposed for anti-viral therapy.
“The technique of using existing and tested drugs for a different purpose can save considerable time and ultimately, lives.”
So far, the Ebola outbreak has infected 4,269 people and killed 2,400 this year in West Africa, according to the World Health Organisation.
Since the epidemic broke out in West Africa early this year, scientists and medical experts have been trying hard to fight the deadly virus and limit it’s outspread. But all the hard efforts turned to be of very less help till date.
Only experimental drugs have been used to treat the victims of this deadly virus though some of the drugs have shown some positive results.
However, a team from the Health Protection Research Unit at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health, said they have stumbled across an existing drug used in the treatment of severe heart disease, which could be adapted to fight the contagious Ebola virus.
According to reports, in collaboration with Public Health England, the team has been looking at how Ebola virus hijacks proteins inside cells, and then seeking ways to stop this from happening.
It was gathered that the experts looked at what proteins inside a cell are critical for the functions of Ebola virus and are hijacked by the virus to help with infection. One of the proteins they have targeted is known as VP24.
This protein disrupts signaling in infected human cells and disrupts the body’s immune system and the fight against the virus.
The Liverpool team then tried to find out if any existing drugs are available that could block the function of this particular protein.
And to their amazement they found the heart drug ‘ouabain’. This drug when administered can reduce the virus’ replication.
According to the team, further tests need to be done to ascertain the efficacy of the drug, but as the heart drug is already in use, much of the work to test whether it is safe for humans has already been completed.
This, they said, would potentially speed up the time it could take get the treatment to Ebola patients in need.
Speaking on their study, Julian Hiscox from the university’s Institute of Infection and Global Health, who led the research, said: “This study shows how existing therapeutics can be identified and potentially repurposed for anti-viral therapy.
“The technique of using existing and tested drugs for a different purpose can save considerable time and ultimately, lives.”
So far, the Ebola outbreak has infected 4,269 people and killed 2,400 this year in West Africa, according to the World Health Organisation.
