Scientists map Ebola virus genome in quest for treatment

“There is an extraordinary battle still ahead, and we have lost many friends and colleagues already like our good friend and colleague Dr. Humarr Khan, a co–senior author here,” Pardis Sabeti, another co–senior author of the report and an associate professor at Harvard University, said in a news release. “By providing this data to the research community immediately and demonstrating that transparency and partnership is one way we hope to honor Humarr’s legacy. We are all in this fight together.”

The spread of the hemorrhagic illness — which has an average mortality rate of about 78 percent — in densely populated areas of West Africa since March has triggered international alarm and efforts to protect ports and borders from possible contagion. But researchers behind the report said a more coordinated global effort by the scientific community and aid organizations is needed to control the outbreak.

For the genome study, scientists at the Broad Institute and Harvard, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation and global researchers, sequenced and analyzed at least 99 Ebola virus genomes in Sierra Leone from 78 patients who contracted the virus during the first 24 days of the outbreak. Genomes from some patients were mapped more than once so scientists could see how the virus was evolving.

Researchers said mapping the virus’ genome is crucial for the development of successful treatments for the disease.

“We’ve already had some researchers contact us about taking the sequences we have generated and creating 3-D structures that can be maps to specific antibodies — they’re starting to look at the antibodies as part of the ZMapp cocktail,” co-lead author Stephen Gire, research scientist at Harvard and the Broad Institute, told Al Jazeera. “It’s important to note that when an antibody is being made toward a certain virus it’s very specific to its genetic sequence. Different genetic sequences may have different variations that could affect how that anti-body works.” ZMapp is an experimental drug designed to treat people who are infected with the virus.

In the course of their research, the study’s authors were able to pinpoint where this most recent strain of Ebola, known as Zaire Ebola or Ebola 2014, originated — which could help public health officials organize surveillance on how a virus spreads throughout a country or across national borders.

The report said the strain originated in Guinea when a traditional healer, who died from Ebola, was buried. Twelve people who attended the funeral carried the virus back to Sierra Leone, where it infiltrated densely populated areas and spread further.

The World Health Organization has recorded at least 3,069 cases of infection with the current strain. The next-largest recorded outbreak was in 1976, with just 318 cases.

The reason previous outbreaks did not spread as quickly or widely is that they typically emerged in central Africa, where long-distance travel is limited, limiting the disease’s spread. West African countries’ failing health care systems and socioeconomic status also contributed to the severity of the outbreak.

“It highlights the need for constant surveillance in these specific areas,” Gire said.