TREATING EBOLA

There is no cure for Ebola as of the time of this writing. However, patients have been documented to make full recoveries based solely on “supportive therapy,” which encompasses measures taken to balance fluids and electrolytes, maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure, and working to avoid any complicating infections. It is well documented that patients who are hospitalized, in general, do better than those in West Africa that are turned away due to lack of bed space. Even the prevention of dehydration with simple IV fluids may improve the chance of recovery.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet officially approved a drug or vaccine as effective against the Ebola virus. However, there are a number of very promising agents that will, hopefully, be available soon. Even so, the question of how fast large quantities can be manufactured exists. And if there are limited amounts of vaccine or treatment, who gets it and who doesn’t?

ZMAPP

The treatment receiving the most attention is called “ZMapp.” ZMapp has been credited with aiding the recovery of several missionaries evacuated to the United States after being infected in West Africa.

ZMapp therapy consists of three “monoclonal antibodies” that are designed to treat existing Ebola infection. These antibodies work by binding to proteins in the virus and “targeting” them for destruction by the immune system.

To explain simply how ZMapp is made, a mouse is injected with Ebola. It produces antibodies against the viruses, which are taken and combined with human cells. Now you have cells with genetic material from two species (called a “chimera” after a mythological beast made up of parts of different animals). These cells, theoretically, have the capacity to fight the virus. They are cloned to make a serum that is given to Ebola victims. It’s more complex than this, but this is an easy, simple description. Interestingly, the process uses tobacco plant material in production.

The serum has been successful in monkeys and may have been a factor in the recovery of some of the test subjects. The question being asked, however, is did the patients recover due to ZMapp, or was it due to their evacuation to high‑level medical facilities or some genetic resistance to the virus?

Other drugs such as Tekmira are also in development in the FDA pipeline.