JLE

Virologie

MENU

Filovirus Volume 11, issue 2, Mars-avril 2007

Figures

See all figures

Authors
Unité de biologie des infections virales émergentes, Institut Pasteur, 21 avenue Tony-Garnier, 69365 Lyon, Inserm, Laboratoire P4 Jean Mérieux, Lyon

Since forty years Marburg and Ebola viruses emerge frequently in Africa and are responsible of viral hemorragic fever outbreaks with high mortality rate. Despite intensive research programs, these viruses remain mysterious : the reservoir is not clearly defined, and the mechanisms leading to their high pathogenicity are poorly understood \; a defective or inadapted immune response seems to be the main factor. No specific treatment nor vaccine are available for humans. But encouraging results have been obtained in the treatment of filovirus infections in non human primate model with different products, as recombinant nematode anticoagulant protein, anti sens phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers or small interfering RNA. As vaccines, recombinant VSV expressing the GP of filovirus or adenovirus expressing the GP and NP of filovirus are very promising in macaque models.