Study in human cells shows it counteracts Ebola’s defenses
Amid the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Congo, now threatening to spill into Rwanda, a new study suggests that an existing, FDA-approved drug called nitazoxanide could potentially help contain this deadly, highly contagious infection. In meticulous experiments in human cells, led by Boston Children’s Hospital, the drug significantly amplified immune responses to Ebola and inhibited Ebola replication.
The study, published in the Cell Press journal iScience, also showed how the drug works: It enhances the immune system’s ability to detect Ebola, normally impeded by the virus.
Nitazoxanide, or NTZ, is currently used to treat gastrointestinal infections caused by parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It has been shown to be safe and even comes in a formulation for children. Study leader Anne Goldfeld, MD, of the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Boston Children’s, hopes that, with further testing and validation, it could be part of the solution for Ebola.
“Currently, there is no easily deployable therapy for Ebola virus,” she says. “There are some very promising vaccines, but there is no oral, inexpensive medication available.”
Outsmarting Ebola
The Ebola virus caused more than 10,000 deaths in the 2014-2016 West African epidemic and more than 1,800 lives (as of August 6th) in the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The virus is very good at evading human immune defenses. Though very small, it has two genes devoted to blocking immune responses.
Goldfeld and collaborators Chad Mire, PhD and Thomas Geisbert, PhD at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, showed in Biosafety Level 4 laboratory experiments that NTZ inhibits the Ebola virus (isolated from an earlier outbreak). Additional experiments performed in collaboration with Sun Hur, PhD of Boston Children’s showed that NTZ works by broadly amplifying the interferon pathway and cellular viral sensors, including two known as RIG-I and PKR. By deleting RIG-I and PKR in human cells through CRISPR editing, Goldfeld and University of Texas colleagues showed that NTZ works through these molecules to inhibit Ebola virus.
“Ebola masks RIG-I and PKR, so that cells don’t perceive that Ebola is inside,” explains Goldfeld. “This lets Ebola get a foothold in the cell and race ahead of the immune response. What we’ve been able to do is enhance the host viral detection response with NTZ. It’s a new path in treating Ebola.”
Goldfeld hopes to move into animal studies soon, especially given that NTZ has already been used in millions of people with minimal side effects. If effective, it could thus be easily repurposed for Ebola treatment or prevention.
Learn more: Existing anti-parasitic drug could offer treatment for Ebola
The Latest on: Ebola
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Ebola” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Ebola
- Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, 2013-2014on May 3, 2024 at 5:01 pm
The Ebola virus disease outbreak now ravaging parts of West Africa is the largest on record. In fact, West Africa has seen more cases of the disease in 2014 than have been seen in all other ...
- Creating the next wave of antibody therapies requires innovative collaborationon April 30, 2024 at 9:01 am
Aligning economic incentives with global health goals is not only a moral imperative but a practical necessity for economic security.
- This Kenya Cave, Believed To Be Source Of Ebola, Could Cause Next Pandemic: WHO Issues Warning About Marburg Virus Outbreakon April 22, 2024 at 10:29 pm
The world's deadliest cave Kitum, located in Mount Elgon National Park in Kenya, could cause the next pandemic. Read on to know more.
- Believed to be the source of Ebola, this Kenya cave could be ground zero for the next pandemicon April 22, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Located in Kenya's Mount Elgon National Park, the Kitum Cave was reportedly the origin point for the Ebola and Marburg viruses, of which the latter has been termed as 'epidemic-prone' by the World ...
- Joel Breman, Who Helped Stop an Ebola Outbreak in Africa, Dies at 87on April 22, 2024 at 4:11 pm
Part of a team flown in to fight the deadly virus in 1976, Dr. Breman also worked to stamp out tropical diseases like smallpox, malaria and Guinea worm.
- This Kenya Cave, Believed To Be Source Of Ebola, Could Cause Next Pandemicon April 22, 2024 at 9:11 am
The 600-foot-deep cave has been continuously dug and expanded by elephants, only to have disease-carrying bats make it their home.
- Unraveling Ebola’s Intricacies A New Pathway to Target Viral Replicationon March 18, 2024 at 12:39 am
I n the ongoing battle against infectious diseases, few adversaries loom as menacingly as the Ebola virus. Known for its swift and deadly outbreaks, Ebola has long posed a formidable challenge to ...
- Pathogens labeled ‘HIV’ and ‘Ebola’ found inside secret, illegal Chinese-owned biolab in Californiaon January 20, 2024 at 10:03 am
During this process, a previously undetected freezer labeled “Ebola” was found. The disease has a death rate between 25% to 90% once it is contracted. “Local officials and contractors ...
- Uganda Appears To Have Defeated The World’s Latest Outbreak Of Ebolaon December 20, 2022 at 12:58 am
Wear a mask. Practice social distancing. The same measures deployed to fight COVID-19 appear to have won a victory fighting a far deadlier virus – Ebola. This weekend Ugandan President Yoweri ...
- WHO: Ugandan Ebola outbreak ‘rapidly evolving’ after 1 monthon October 19, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Doctors put on protective equipment as they prepare to visit a patient who was in contact with an Ebola victim, in the isolation section of Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital in Entebbe, Uganda ...
via Bing News