Abstract

UPDATES ON EBOLA VIRUS FEVER: DIAGNOSIS AND PROGRESSION IN VACCINE DEVELOPMENT

*Tiwari Ankush S., Yadav K.S., Gomes Merlyn W.

Abstract

Ebola Virus Disease (previously was recognized as Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever) is a Severe, often fatal illness, with a death of up to 90%. The illness affects humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees).[1] Today, West Africa is facing the biggest outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in history. Of all the viral haemorrhagic fevers, EVD is amongst the most virulent pathogens and case fatality rates up to 90% have been reported for it. Its high pathogenicity and transmissibility and potential to be misused as a bioterrorism agent has threatened the entire world. This review aims to provide an overview for diagnosis and treatment options available currently and those that are under process but have shown promising results for the future. The test available currently for diagnosis includes ELISA, RT-PCR (Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction), combination of nucleic acid purification and nested multiplex RT-PCR Film Array (FA) system, nucleic acid sequencing technologies, serum neutralization test, NAT (nucleic acid test) molecular detection, Ebola virus isolation, antigen detection, IgM or IgG antibody detection. While the treatment options currently under clinical trials are DNA vaccines, Ebola VLPs, Vaccinia virus-based vaccine, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV)-like replicon particles, recombinant Zaire Ebolavirus ΔVP30, Kunjin virus-based vaccine, recombinant cytomegalovirus (CMV)- vaccines, recombinant paramyxovirus-vaccines, adenovirus-based vaccines and vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccines, recombinant rabies virus (RABV)-based vaccines monoclonal antibodies, nucleoside analogues, Phosporodiamidate morpholino oligomer, ribavirin, interferons, recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC).

Keywords: Ebola virus, RT-PCR, ELISA, Ebola vaccines.