Determination and Therapeutic Exploitation of Ebola Virus Spontaneous Mutation Frequency.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Ebola virus (EBOV) is an RNA virus that can cause hemorrhagic fever with high fatality rates, and there are no approved vaccines or therapies. Typically, RNA viruses have high spontaneous mutation rates, which permit rapid adaptation to selection pressures and have other important biological consequences. However, it is unknown if filoviruses exhibit high mutation frequencies. Ultradeep sequencing and a recombinant EBOV that carries the gene encoding green fluorescent protein were used to determine the spontaneous mutation frequency of EBOV. The effects of the guanosine analogue ribavirin during EBOV infections were also assessed. Ultradeep sequencing revealed that the mutation frequency for EBOV was high and similar to those of other RNA viruses. Interestingly, signific

SUBMITTER: Alfson KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4810732 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature