Ebola Virus Antigens
The Ebola virus (EBOV) is one of the five known viruses within the Ebolavirus genus, it belongs to the filovirus family. The Ebola virus is a highly pathogenic and very lethal virus that can cause Ebola hemorrhagic fever in humans and primates, known as Ebola virus disease (EVD).
The natural host for the virus is unknown, but fruit bats have been suggested as the natural reservoir. EBOV can be transmitted through body contact and body fluids. There are 4 subtypes of EBOV: EBV-Z, EBV-S, EBV-R, and EBV-C. The lethality of type Z and type S for humans and primates is very high, while type R is more moderate. There is a serological cross-reactivity between the four subtypes.
Ebola virus is a single-stranded, non-segmented RNA virus is a single-stranded virus, Each virion contains one molecule of linear, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA, 18,959 to 18,961 nucleotides in length. The length of the EBV particle is around 300~1500 nm. The EBV genome consists of seven structural proteins: nucleoprotein (NP), polymerase cofactor (VP35), (VP40), GP, transcription activator (VP30), VP24, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L).
The Ebola virus has a long capsule (shown as in Fig.1) with the appearance of a crooked, branching filament, surrounding a single small strand of RNA. The crookedness allows Ebola to evade antibodies and detection. There are three layers of the virus: the nucleocapsid, the matrix space, and the envelope. An empty space of 20 nm diameter is inside the nucleocapsid at the very center. The virus shape is very variable. The long filaments are 80 nanometers in diameter and either 800 to 1000 nanometers long.
The EBOV genome encodes seven structural proteins and one non-structural protein. The order of the genes is 3 ′ – leader – NP – VP35 – VP40 – GP / sGP – VP30 – VP24 – L – trailer – 5 ′. These seven genes make eight proteins. NP means nucleoprotein and VP means viral protein. L is the polymerase molecule that copies RNA. Creative Diagnostics can now provide recombinant Ebola Zaire nucleoprotein, Ebola-Z and Ebola-S nuclear proteins. Contact our sales representative for more details.