New Delhi: China’s scientists have created a new virus that can kill a person in three days. This study, carried out at Hebei Medical University, uses a synthetic virus to simulate the deadly Ebola virus in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the pathogen. The study clarifies the possible advantages and hazards of such experiments and was published in Science Direct.
The team utilised a virus known as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which they modified to carry the glycoprotein (GP) from the Ebola virus. This protein is crucial for the virus to enter and infect host cells.
The scientists conducted their experiments on a group of Syrian hamsters, including five females and five males. Upon injection with the engineered virus, the hamsters developed severe symptoms similar to those of human Ebola patients. These symptoms included systemic diseases and multi-organ failure, leading to the death of the animals within three days. Some hamsters also exhibited secretions in their eyes, which impaired their vision—a symptom linked to optic nerve disorders seen in Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients.
One of the primary motivations behind this study was to establish an animal model that safely replicates Ebola symptoms without the need for Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) facilities. Ebola research requires extremely secure labs, but most global facilities only meet BSL-2 standards. By using VSV engineered with Ebola GP, the researchers created a model that could be studied in lower-security environments. This breakthrough allows for more widespread and accessible research into Ebola and potential treatments.
Upon the death of the hamsters, the researchers harvested their organs to analyze the virus’s impact. They found that the virus had accumulated in critical tissues, including the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, stomach, intestines, and brain. This widespread presence confirmed the virus’s ability to cause multi-organ failure, mirroring the devastating effects of Ebola in humans.
The success of this study offers a rapid preclinical evaluation method for medical countermeasures against Ebola, potentially accelerating the development of vaccines and treatments. It also raises significant ethical and safety concerns. The creation of such a deadly virus, even in a controlled environment, poses risks of accidental release or misuse. Amid the ongoing debates about lab safety and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, this research highlights the need for stringent oversight and transparent ethical guidelines in virology studies.
Ebola remains one of the most feared viruses due to its high mortality rate and severe symptoms. The last major Ebola outbreak occurred between 2014 and 2016, affecting several West African countries and resulting in thousands of deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), such outbreaks highlight the urgent need for effective medical responses and the importance of research like the one conducted at Hebei Medical University.
