Abstract

Ebola is a viral disease transmitted by bats and a species of rat to human. It was discovered in Zaire and latter spread to Zambia, Congo, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The outbreak of Ebola in some parts of African countries posed therapeutic challenges, due to lack of ideal therapeutic agent against Ebola. In view of this, molecular and cellular pathogenesis of Ebola virus, therapeutic modalities as well as immunopreventive potential of anti-ebola were reviewed. The severe pathogenicity of Ebola virus may be due to its antigenic shift, glycoprotein, polymerase 1, nucleoprotein, viral protein and surface expression protein. The possible therapeutic and vaccine against Ebola should target all the proteins present in Ebola virus. General and subpopulation affected should be monitored during the period of epidemics in order to prevent generation of a new variant. Prompt diagnosis, quarantine and multifacet treatment intervention that involve the use of analgesics, haematonics, plasma expander, blood transfusion and some anti-ebola drugs under trial could save lives.

Key words: Ebola, anti-ebola drug, genome, vaccine, Zmapp.