A team of Chinese researchers has unveiled a game-changing mutation in the Ebola virus that fueled its rapid spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s massive 2018-2020 epidemic. Featured in Cell, the findings stress proactive viral tracking.
The outbreak infected over 3,000 and killed more than 2,000, marking it as history’s second-worst. Professor Qian Jun’s group at Sun Yat-sen University delved into why it persisted.
By sequencing 480 genomes, they isolated GP-V75A in the glycoprotein early on. This variant exploded in prevalence, mirroring case spikes and proving more transmissible.
Experiments validated its superior infectivity across human cells and in mice models. A darker revelation: it diminished key antibodies’ and small-molecule drugs’ potency, hinting at resistance risks.
Prof. Jun advocates for real-time monitoring: ‘It enables early warnings and strategy pivots for vaccines and treatments.’
As Ebola remains a global threat, this discovery equips scientists to counter future mutations, potentially saving countless lives through vigilant preparedness.