A cure for the deadly ebola virus could be underway. Experts from University of Liverpool claimed that they have made a breakthrough that could lead to a cure for the deadly virus that already killed more than 2,300 people from at least 4,000 cases in West Africa. This is welcome news especially after victims were downed by several unfortunate incidents regarding the fight on the ebola virus outbreak.
The Ebola Virus outbreak continues while the resources and support dwindles. WHO said that they have undergone severe budget cuts, making it hard for them to meet the demand for supply and staff in fighting the deadly disease. The organization's director general Margaret Chan also revealed that the outbreak is now spiraling out of control and slowing it down is getting a lot more difficult.
IBN Live reported that the university's Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging Infections from the Institute of Infection and Global Health collaborated with the Public Health England are now looking "at how Ebola virus hijacks proteins inside cells, and then seeking ways to stop this from happening."
"They 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," the report said.
One of the proteins they have targeted is known as VP24. This protein disrupts signalling in infected human cells and disrupts the body's immune system and the fight against the virus.
From there, the Liverpool team looked at whether any existing drugs already block the function of this particular protein. They found the heart drug ouabain, when administered, can reduce the virus' replication."
The study was led by Julian Hiscox of the Institute of Infection and Global Health and Roger Hewson of Public Health England.
"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," Hiscox was quoted as saying by Chinese news agency Xinhua.
