From the ArcaMax Publishing, Science & Technology Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/technology/s-572966-472762
GALVESTON, Texas (UPI) -- University of Texas scientists say they have
blocked Ebola infections in cell culture experiments, an achievement
that may lead to a therapy for the disease.
The researchers at the university's Medical Branch said they
discovered two biochemical pathways the Ebola virus relies on to
infect cells. Using substances that block the activation of those
pathways, the scientists prevented Ebola infection in the cell
cultures.
Associate Professor Robert Davey, lead author of the study, said the
team used new computational and analytical techniques to focus more on
the host cell than the virus.
"The premise for this work is that the virus is essentially nothing
without a cell," said Davey. "It needs to rely on many cell proteins
and factors for it to replicate. The idea is that if we can suppress
the expression of those cell proteins for just a short time, we can
then stop the disease in its tracks."
The study is detailed in the journal Drug Discovery Research.