Evolutionary goal of Ebola virus is to become ‘more lethal’

A new study has revealed that the evolutionary goal of Ebola virus is to become “more lethal.” Scientists at the University of Liverpool looked at the Zaire Ebola strain, which is responsible for the current outbreak in West Africa, in an animal system to understand how it gains strength when it spreads from animals to humans and then from human-to-human contact. They found that initially the animal systems were not affected by the virus, but subsequent transmission into other animals caused the virus to ‘hot up’ and become more severe. The team analysed the viruses at different stages and were able to identify several changes in its genetic material that were associated with increased disease. Researcher Julian Hiscox explained that they were able to show through genetic analysiswhich parts of the virus are involved in this process and the information we have gathered will now allow them to monitor for such changes...