Improved mouse model to fast-track Ebola vaccines research

A new research has revealed that scientists have developed improved mouse model to accelerate research on potential Ebola vaccines and treatments.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina have developed the first genetic strain of mice that can be infected with Ebola and display symptoms similar to those that humans experience.

Co-author Ralph Baric said that a cure for Ebola can't be looked unless there is an animal model that mimics the Ebola virus disease spectra and that, for the first time, they were able to produce a novel platform for rapidly developing new mouse models that replicate human disease for this virus, as well as other important emerging human pathogens.

Researchers were able to breed together eight genetic mouse variants and successfully test a strain of mice to permit active research on potential Ebola vaccines and treatments and this model system more accurately reflected the human experience when infected with the virus.

The team was able to show that a combination of genes were involved in producing a range of disease symptoms, such that the genetic variation of the mice directly led to the variety of symptoms that the disease produced.

Co-author Martin Ferris said that public perception of Ebola infection typically focuses on the high mortality rate following hemorrhagic fever, but Ebola actually produces a range of disease symptoms.

Ferris added that during an outbreak, it is often difficult to assess the role that genetic variation plays in determining disease severity in people and if they are going to develop treatments, then they need to know about this genetic variation.

The study is published in Science.