Ebola Virus

[Vene]

A key structure of Ebola has been discovered, a protein that it uses to attach to a host cell. It sounds like medicine can be developed to attack the weak points of this protein and prevent it from infecting humans. The majority of the protein is protected by carbohydrates, but enough of it should be exposed so that it can be effectively destroyed. It'd be great if this horrible disease could be treated and even cured.
link to article

I just thought it would be nice to post some actual science here instead of creationist ramblings.

 

[atomweaver]

A key structure of Ebola has been discovered, a protein that it uses to attach to a host cell. It sounds like medicine can be developed to attack the weak points of this protein and prevent it from infecting humans. The majority of the protein is protected by carbohydrates, but enough of it should be exposed so that it can be effectively destroyed.

You, sir, are a vicious anti-Ebolist. What sane person would want to harm such a cute, wittle microbe..?

 

[pgp_protector]

You, sir, are a vicious anti-Ebolist. What sane person would want to harm such a cute, wittle microbe..?

My little one wants some of those bugs (though not the ebola one )

 

[atomweaver]

My little one wants some of those bugs (though not the ebola one )

Heh. My favorite new one is algae (anabaena)

Sorry, Vene, didn't mean to make your thread wander... Offering a road map towards treating Ebola is some mighty fine science.

 

[Illuminatus]

Personally, I'm a fan of stuffed subatomic particles.

 

[pgp_protector]

Personally, I'm a fan of stuffed subatomic particles.

Ok, I'm going to have to get one of them

 

[Naraoia]

The things people invent...

(That Anabaena is - are? - so cute!)

Has anyone made a Janus (a.k.a. Just Another ) Kinase? I wish I had a cuddly two-faced enzyme to phosphorylate me into action on gloomy Scottish mornings

</silliness>
<on topic>

I wonder how long the ebola virus would take to evolve resistance to any new drug.

 

[Illuminatus]

I wonder how long the ebola virus would take to evolve resistance to any new drug.

I'm thinking quite some time. There aren't many human cases of Ebola - usually under 100/year, IIRC. Assuming it was reasonably effective to start with, there wouldn't be enough exposure to the drug for a resistant strain to pop up.

 

[Naraoia]

That makes sense. I didn't know it was that rare in humans.

 

[Illuminatus]

That makes sense. I didn't know it was that rare in humans.

Since Ebola Zaire (the first strain) was discovered in 1976, there've been less than two dozen outbreaks, the largest of which only involved about 300 people. It helps that outbreaks tend to get a quick international response.

 

[Nitron]

This is the best science plush toy:

http://rocket-craft.com/works_other01.html

 

[Vene]

Heh. My favorite new one is algae (anabaena)

Sorry, Vene, didn't mean to make your thread wander... Offering a road map towards treating Ebola is some mighty fine science.

No problem, I think those things are great.