‘Superballs’ can block infection by Ebola virus

Molecular ‘superballs’ have been created that can stop viruses infecting cells. The molecules, which are based on C60 fullerenes, are water soluble and biocompatible, and have shown promise in vitro in preventing infection of cells by the Ebola virus. Animals’ immune systems can be alerted to an attack by a virus when it binds glycoprotein receptors on the surface of some cells. This can provoke an immune reaction and prevent infection. However, certain viruses such as HIV and Ebola bind to the receptor and use it as a way to infiltrate the cell, circumventing the immune system. It is possible to prevent the virus from slipping into a cell by filling the receptor with another molecule with greater affinity. Branched molecules, known as dendrimers, with sugars at the end of each branch have been used in the lab to bind to target receptors. However, large dendrimer synthesis is complex. Now a new...