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 Contrary to research conducted early in the outbreak which suggested
the virus was mutating at twice the rate previously seen, this study
showed the mutation rate was only slightly higher in the West Africa
epidemic - a finding experts said was reassuring.
"The results are good news for the scientists working to develop
long-term solutions for Ebola, such as vaccines and treatments, as
it means these... should still work against the mutated strains of
the virus," said Miles Carroll, head of research microbiology
services at Public Health England (PHE), the laboratory leading the
work.
Ebola has killed more than 11,000 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and
Liberia in an unprecedented epidemic that began more than a year
ago. New cases have declined sharply in the past few months, but the
outbreak is not yet over.
Dwindling numbers of new infections have, however, made work on
trials designed to test and validate potential vaccines and
treatments almost impossible.
For their study, Carroll and researchers across Europe and in
affected West African countries had access to data on the virus
covering almost a year.
They analyzed 179 patient samples obtained by the European Mobile
Laboratory, which was deployed to the epicenter of the outbreak in
Guinea, to find how the Ebola virus mutated and spread.
Their analysis confirmed Ebola was introduced into the Guinean
population in December 2013 at a single source, supporting theories
from epidemiologists. Scientists believe it was first transmitted
from a bat to a two-year-old boy.
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The team also established how the virus spilled into Sierra Leone in
April or early May 2014.
Looking at their results, Carroll said his team now believes one of
the key factors in whether Ebola kills someone is the host's genetic
makeup, rather than changes in the virus itself.
"Our next study will investigate this theory, which may lead to
improved treatment options," he said.
David Heymann, PHE's chairman and a professor at the London School
of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the findings should be
reassuring to scientists and the public "that the recent work on
Ebola has been worthwhile and could soon lead to a better state of
preparedness and response for the future".
(Reporting by Kate Kelland; editing by John Stonestreet)
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