In the March 4 issue of The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Aman and colleagues from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease, demonstrate that Ebola and Marburg viruses are dependent upon cell membrane lipid rafts for entry into the cell and ultimately for virus assembly and budding, and are thus potential therapeutic targets. They further go on to demonstrate that virus-like particles (VLPs) that do not contain viral genome (and thus are of potential therapeutic utility) can be generated. The authors speculate that these VLPs may have utility as vaccines against these lethal pathogens.
Corresponding author:
Dr. Javad M Aman
USAMRIID
Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry
1425 Porter St.
Frederick, MD21702-5011
USA
Tel (301) 619-6727
Fax (301) 619-2348
e-mail amanm@ncifcrf.gov
Journal of Experimental Medicine