Detection and molecular characterization of Ebola viruses causing disease in human and nonhuman primates

Citation
A. Sanchez et al., Detection and molecular characterization of Ebola viruses causing disease in human and nonhuman primates, J INFEC DIS, 179, 1999, pp. S164-S169
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Immunolgy & Infectious Disease",Immunology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
ISSN journal
00221899 → ACNP
Volume
179
Year of publication
1999
Supplement
1
Pages
S164 - S169
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-1899(199902)179:<S164:DAMCOE>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
Ebola (EBO) viruses were detected in specimens obtained during the hemorrha gic fever outbreak among humans in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1995 (subtype Zaire) and during an outbreak of disease in cynomo lgus macaques in Alice, Texas, and the Philippines in 1996 (subtype Reston) . Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays were developed and proven effective for detecting viral RNA in body fluids and tissues of inf ected individuals. Little change was seen in the nucleotide or deduced amin o acid sequences of the glycoprotein (GP) of these EBO virus subtypes compa red with those of their original representatives (i.e., the 1976 Yambuku, D RC, EBO isolate [subtype Zaire] and the 1989 Philippines and Reston, Virgin ia, isolates [subtype Reston]). The nonstructural secreted GP (SGP), the pr imary product of the GP gene, was more highly conserved than the structural GP, indicating different functional roles or evolutionary constraints for these proteins. Significant amounts of SGP were detected in acutely infecte d humans.