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Ebola Research Paper

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The Ebola Virus is a very sensitive subject at this time, with an outbreak within Western Africa (Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia most affected) causing panic and fear among many countries across the world. Within this essay, I aim to cover the transmission of the virus and how it replicates within the host cells, whilst briefly looking at the symptoms and dangers of the disease.

The Ebola Virus is the most famous Virus from the group known as the Filoviruses (known for their filamentous shape). Ebola has been previously known as Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever, and is the cause for the Ebola virus disease. It has an extremely high mortality rate, ranging between 50%-90%, causing it to be a very dangerous disease if caught. There is currently no licensed Vaccine to help prevent the disease, and has disastrous effects on the bodies cells, vascular system and immune system. …show more content…

the fruit bat. The virus first attacks the cells within the fruit bat by binding to the Glycoprotein receptors on the membrane of the host cell. It does this by having glycoprotiens on the membrane of the virus, causing it to attach to the receptors on the cell and being accepted. From there the virus releases its contents within its membrane into the host. The virus contains nulceoprotiens, RNA, and Polymerase. The host cell is then used (using its organelles) to replicate the viruses RNA and nucleoprotiens. The cell membrane is used to create the membrane for the virus, containing the relevant contents for the cell. Many Ebola viruses are created in this way, causing the bat to become infected with the

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