Rizal Philippines | December 8, 2014
From New Science Mag
From Telesurv - producing millions of doses for Ebola patients
From North Country Publications
From tobacco leaves to this
Vaccines to fight Ebola
I was able to watch last night the Discovery feature on Ebola. How it spread early on and how the vaccine was discovered and produced are interesting stories.
1. Early on Ebola was spread in a health care mission because they reused needles that were not sterilized. They did not realize also that burying the dead hastened the spread through contact with body fluids and feces.
2. Dr. Charles Amzhael discovered the vaccine in treating Ebola. 15 years ago.
1. First Ebola virus was found to be an ideal messenger for drugs in treating cysts in the lungs (for crossing the pleural barrier). The spike on the virus makes it easier for them to attach to the cells, engulf cells and ingest the drugs that were in the messenger;
2. Then antibodies were developed to remove the spike.. When the spike is removed 99.99 % the patient not only survives but recovers. The Ebola virus can no longer enter the cells and multiply.
3. There were 3 antibodies that were developed that were effective vs. Ebola.
4. How are the antibodies produced in labs?
The factories for these antibodies are tobacco leaves in labs. The anti bodies protein grow in tobacco leaves; that is why it takes too long to harvest these proteins at such small amounts every 10 days.
One such drug was Zmapp used in treating two American missionaries. It takes slow time to produce enough - say only 10 doses in 3 mos.
Large greenhouse for tobacco leaves growing
At Icon Genetics in Germany
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