In a new study in Texas, researchers at the University of Texas at Galveston University Medical Branch revealed how the Ebola virus (EBoV) effectively destroys the immune system. Related research results were published in "PLoS Pathogens" magazine.
The author of the paper, a virologist and a professor at the University of Texas Galveston School of Medicine, Alex Bukleyev, said that his research team modified the Ebola virus. This research weakened our immune defenses or made us immune. How much damage should the defense section say? In the past 16 years, scientists have created and developed a response method to deal with how the Ebola virus invades new hosts and how it suppresses interferons (in response to the invasion of viruses and other pathogens). The specific signal protein released-has been extensively studied. Interferon directly inhibits the replication of virus particles in cells. The focus of this research is how the Ebola virus responds to the host's cellular immune response. This immune response is another defense mechanism that involves several specific immune cells that kill these specific immune cells, and dead virus-infected cells secrete antibodies that directly neutralize the virus. .. Previous studies have determined that two protein regions in the Ebola virus structure, called interferon inhibitory domains (IID), can prevent the host's interferon from functioning and prevent the host's immune system from defending itself. You have lost the ability to realize yourself. Therefore, these IIDs can promote the replication of Ebola virus on the host. However, so far, it has been speculated that IID only inhibits the effects of interferon.
This study investigated the host effect of using Ebola virus strains that have been genetically modified to make one or both of the two IIDs ineffective. These recombinant Ebola viruses are located on the surface of specific immune cells isolated from human blood, called dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and natural killer cells. It plays an important role in immune defense. Bukleyev said: "These two IIDs not only follow previously established methods, but they also limit infection when they interfere with the response to the Ebola virus invasion."
Bukleyev said, "A series of protective biochemical reactions occurred inside the cell. It was found to contain reactions --- it also resists the activity of immune cells, such as T lymphocytes that kill virus-infected cells, natural killer cells, and antibodies that secrete B lymphocytes. Author Patrick Yunan pointed out: This is a double-edged sword-these IIDs can not only block interferon signals, but also activate the cellular immune response of infected cells. Prevention. As long as Ebola These functions of the virus are destroyed, and the immune system should be able to eliminate them."
Bukleyev said, "In short, these findings are attributed to the IID of the Ebola virus. Some people believe that it has a comprehensive inhibitory effect against the next Ebola virus infection, and it has also been proven to have a blocking effect; The potential benefit of IID immunosuppression is that it can resist Ebola virus infection. It can be used as a treatment method."