A study finds that scientists in China have created a new virus that can cause death in 3 days.
In order to better comprehend the deadly Ebola virus, researchers from Hebei Medical University are simulating it with a synthetic virus in this study. The paper, which was released in Science Direct, explains the potential benefits and risks of conducting such experiments.
The group employed a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) that they had altered to transport the Ebola virus’ glycoprotein (GP). For the virus to enter and infect host cells, this protein is essential.
A set of five female and five male Syrian hamsters were used in the research by the investigators. The hamsters exhibited severe symptoms after being injected with the modified virus, which were comparable to those experienced by human Ebola patients. The animals died within three days due to a combination of multiple organ failure and systemic illnesses. Additionally, a few hamsters showed signs of secretions in their eyes, which impede vision. This is a symptom associated with optic nerve problems observed in patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD).
The creation of an animal model that securely mimics Ebola symptoms without the necessity for Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) facilities was one of the main driving forces behind this investigation. Very secure labs are needed for Ebola research, however the majority of facilities worldwide only fulfill BSL-2 requirements. The researchers developed a model that could be examined in lower-security settings by utilizing VSV modified with Ebola GP. This discovery makes it possible to conduct more accessible and extensive research on Ebola and possible cures.
The scientists removed the hamsters’ organs after they died so they could examine the effects of the infection. Critical organs like the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, stomach, intestines, and brain were among the critical tissues where they discovered the virus had amassed. The virus’s propensity to induce multi-organ failure, which is similar to the devastating effects of Ebola in people, was proven by its widespread presence.