Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV)

Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) is a filamentous, enveloped virus belonging to the Filoviridae family and is the primary causative agent of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans (WHO, 2023). The viral genome encodes seven structural proteins, including the surface glycoprotein (GP), which mediates host cell attachment and membrane fusion, and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L protein), which is essential for viral replication (UniProt, 2024). EBOV primarily targets myeloid cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells, leading to systemic viral spread, a massive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and profound coagulopathy. Therapeutic interventions focus on the GP, targeted by FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies like Inmazeb (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab) and Ebanga (ansuvimab) to neutralize the virus, and the L protein, which is the target of investigational nucleoside analogs like remdesivir (FDA, 2020; Mulangu et al., 2019). Despite therapeutic progress, the high mortality rate and the virus's ability to persist in immune-privileged sites remain significant clinical and public health challenges.

Other names

Ebola virusEbolavirusZaire Ebola virusEVD

Neutralization of the viral glycoprotein (GP) to prevent host cell attachment and entry, and inhibition of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L protein) to block viral genome replication (FDA, 2020; UniProt, 2024).