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Virology know how to deal with one of the most dangerous diseases

Virology of the United States have found a way to combat one of the most dangerous diseases of our time. Developed by the drug blocking the activity of the virus, which kills the infected in 90% of cases.

Ebola: the bloody death

The first symptoms of Ebola are similar to those of most relatively harmless infections: fever, weakness, headache, sore throat and muscle pains.

But then the virus starts its work in the blood patient. It violates the blood clotting and cause formation plugging vessels clots. In addition, another protein the virus destroys collagen – a protein that provides elasticity of the skin and connective tissues. Die and exfoliate mucous membranes, open multiple bleeding – the blood goes from rassloivshihsya gums, genitals, over his eyes. The skin is covered with a rash of petty – from multiple hemorrhages.

Despite education blood clots, stroke and other threatening complications resulting blood is not winding down and the patient may die even against the violation of the internal organs (some of which is affected and, indeed, begins to decompose within a living organism), but simply from the blood. Blood, vomit and other patient selection is extremely dangerous – the concentration of virus in them is particularly great. On the opening day of the virus, doctors counted 1850 cases of the disease and about 1200 of them have been fatal. During the recent outbreaks of dying up to 90% infected, and despite all efforts to create a drug to doctors and scientists have not yet succeeded.

switches for genes help to look for drugs

virologist from the University of Texas decided to check – how to block the entry of the deadly infection in a cell? To do this, scientists prepared for each specific protein «switch» in the form of short RNA molecules. Such «switch» blocked the synthesis of proteins by contacting directly with the carrier of genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes – the structure on which the cell synthesizes proteins needed it.

method using RNA switches allowed fast Classified all 735 potential proteins. Next, scientists using special mathematical algorithms analyze the collected information and made the potential targets for future drugs.

Protein CaMk2 proved critical for the infected cells. It is normally involved in many important processes (up to the formation of memory), and blocking it can lead to side-effects – but in the treatment of hemorrhagic fever it is not so much. Knowing the protein, researchers have quickly picked up and the drug that temporarily disables it: and then tried to infect cultures of cells the virus in the presence of a new drug.

Ebola entry is prohibited

The result of actions of potential drugs has been positive. The virus was stopped: he was unable to infect cells. With regard to the patients it would mean that after the rapid spread of infection through the body will be able to stop before the patient begins to die from hemorrhages or denials of internal organs.

However, the researchers explain, first need to test the drug not only on the cells, but also in animals. If these tests are successful – one of the most vicious diseases will cease to be a death sentence for most of the infected.