University of Illinois at Chicago researchers found that an existing class of drugs may be able to stop Ebola and Marburg viruses from entering host cells, according to Medical News Today. The Journal of Virology published the study.
Here are five things to know:
1. Lijun Rong, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago professor in microbiology and immunology, and his team found that the way Ebola and Marburg enter host cells is through a cell surface receptor.
2. The cell surface receptor is a protein named GPCR, which is part of many biological processes.
3. Because there are thousands of GPCRs in humans, many drugs are already in circulation to combat diseases associated with them.
4. The researchers discovered that 20 GPCR antagonists could hinder Ebola and Marburg viruses from entering host cells.
5. Dr. Rong concluded that there are many existing drugs that may be key in stopping Ebola and Marburg.
