According to the article, the laboratory tests showed how a protein from this virus, known as VP24, interacted with chemical elements of the so-called nuclear envelope, the membrane that surrounds the cell nucleus, allowing replication of the pathogen and progression of the disease.

This molecule interacts with emerin, lamin A/C and lamin B, components of such envelope, decreases the interaction that normally occurs between them and causes their breakdown.

Researchers showed that VP24 interferes with the activation of the immune system, which must attack viral pathogens.

‘We believe that our discovery of this Ebola protein and severe damage it causes to infected cells will help promote further research on much more effective ways to treat and prevent the spread of deadly viruses, perhaps through a new inhibitor,’ said Carmen Rivas, specialist involved in the publication.

pgh/Pll/msm / ghp