Chinese researchers have identified a significant mutation in the Ebola virus that boosted its infectivity during a major outbreak, shedding light on epidemic surveillance and drug development. The study, detailed in the journal Cell, focused on the Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 2018 to 2020, the second-largest in history, resulting in over 3,000 infections and 2,000 deaths.
Professor Qian Jun from Sun Yat-sen University emphasized the importance of real-time genomic surveillance and evolutionary analysis of pathogens during emerging infectious disease outbreaks. Such monitoring can help predict changes in transmission risk and assess the effectiveness of existing drugs and vaccines, guiding the adjustment of control strategies proactively.
The research team aimed to investigate whether viral evolution played a role in prolonging the Ebola outbreak beyond local healthcare challenges. By analyzing 480 complete Ebola virus genomes in 2022, they identified a variant with a specific mutation in the viral glycoprotein, named GP-V75A, which emerged early in the DRC epidemic. This variant, with enhanced infectivity, quickly became dominant and correlated with the surge in case numbers.
Experiments using different models confirmed that the GP-V75A mutation significantly improved the virus’s ability to infect various host cells and mice. Moreover, the mutation raised concerns about reduced effectiveness of certain therapeutic antibodies and small-molecule entry inhibitors, hinting at potential drug resistance risks. The study underscores the necessity of continuous viral genome monitoring during outbreaks to anticipate evolutionary threats and support the development of broad-spectrum countermeasures.
