Immune barriers of Ebola virus infection

Anita K. McElroy, Elke Mühlberger, César Muñoz-Fontela

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Since its initial emergence in 1976 in northern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ebola virus (EBOV) has been a global health concern due to its virulence in humans, the mystery surrounding the identity of its host reservoir and the unpredictable nature of Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks. Early after the first clinical descriptions of a disease resembling a ‘septic-shock-like syndrome’ with coagulation abnormalities and multi-system organ failure, researchers began to evaluate the role of the host immune response in EVD pathophysiology. In this review, we summarize how data gathered during the last 40 years in the laboratory as well as in the field have provided insight into EBOV immunity. From molecular mechanisms involved in EBOV recognition in infected cells, to antigen processing and adaptive immune responses, we discuss current knowledge on the main immune barriers of infection as well as outstanding research questions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)152-160
Number of pages9
JournalCurrent Opinion in Virology
Volume28
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2018
Externally publishedYes

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