Small protein found in Ebola virus may be responsible for its rapid spread, study says

A Tulane University-lead study recently revealed how a small protein found within the Ebola virus may be responsible for the virus’ ability to spread rapidly from person-to-person.

Ebola-infected patients are known to produce large quantities of a compound known as delta peptide. The peptide’s active functions, however, remain unknown.

For the study, researchers first tested the effects of purified delta peptide on mammalian cells which lead to the determination that a viral protein called viroporin, which damages host cells and makes membranes more permeable, could be responsible.

“Our leading hypothesis is that the delta peptide affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by damaging cells after its release from infected cells,” William Wimley, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Tulane University School of Medicine, said. “This effect may be a major contributor to the severe GI illness of patients with the Ebola virus.”

Tulane researchers said the next step would be to start developing various therapies that target the delta peptide.

The discovery comes as worldwide healthcare professionals work to contain a recent outbreak of the disease in a remote area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In total, 29 suspected cases have appeared since the first case was identified on April 22. It is the ninth such outbreak to appear in the DRC since 1976.