Ebola virus edits its own genetic material

As the Ebola virus (shown) invades a host, it adds building blocks to its genetic material that may alter the proteins it makes. Studying these proteins may lead to better treatments for the virus.

NIAID/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

By Ashley Yeager

November 4, 2014 at 5:20 pm

As it invades a host cell, the Ebola virus edits its genetic material, adding extra RNA building blocks. These changes may produce new proteins that scientists have not yet described, which in turn may affect how the virus grows in animals and humans. Studying the proteins in greater detail may lead to better treatments for Ebola in the future, scientists suggest November 4 in mBio.

The team also studied Marburg virus, which is related to the Ebola virus, and found similar types of edits to its genetic material.