Ebola vaccine protects from virus when administered 7 days ahead of infection

Scientists have conducted trials and found that Ebola vaccine protects from virus when administered 7 days ahead of infection in nonhuman primates, and partial protection when administered three days before infection.

A preclinical study testing the efficacy of the Ebola vaccine VSV-EBOV against the newly emerged West African Ebola strain further revealed the mechanisms by which an effective immune response is mounted against the Ebola virus, aspects of which have been unclear.

The researchers suggest that the VSV-EBOV vaccine provokes a strong innate immune response that helps limit virus replication during the critical period as the body develops Ebola-specific antibodies. This work shows the potential of this vaccine for rapid deployment to contain any future outbreaks.