Ebola+Virus+Discussion

Research Question Folarin et al. presented a pattern in genomic data that supports the conclusion that transmission to Nigeria occurred through a single lineage from Liberia. With a degree of confidence, there is evidence that supports this by excluding non-human transmission from this population. This genomic research is significant to epidemic management and disaster modeling. By excluding new lineages of infection, disaster managers can have better forecasting models. There are more cases of Reston Virus in non-human hosts. Understanding the origins of an outbreak is significant to understanding transmission. Research from Pappalardo et al. suggests a progression to human pathogenicity through protein-protein interactions in Reston Virus. The results from the phylogenetic trees in this analysis do not support that conclusion. It does support Folarin et al. by showing separation between Reston Virus and non-human hosts of Ebola Virus, specifically in the nucleoprotein analysis.

Whole Genome Analysis The Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree shows a strong separation of non-human Ebola Virus to the Nigerian population. There is also a linkage to the Liberian sub-lineage, as described from the Folarin et al. The Liberian sub-lineage is also linked to the earliest outbreak case from Guinea. The Guinea genome is not branch from a non-human lineage and shows a strong separation from the non-human host Ebola Virus. There is no branching from the Reston Virus into the Ebola Virus genome. These patterns are also consistent in the Minimum Evolution Tree and Neighbor Joining Tree. VP24 Protein Sequence Analysis There is a strong separation between Reston and Ebola Viruses in all phylogenetic models for this protein. VP30 Protein Sequence Analysis There is a strong separation between Reston and Ebola Viruses in all phylogenetic models for this protein. The branching between the Nigerian population and its lineages are not significant in these models for this protein. VP40 Protein Sequence Analysis There is a strong separation between Reston and Ebola Viruses in all phylogenetic models for this protein. There is a weak separation between the Guinea Pig viral protein and the remaining Ebola Virus protein sequences. Nucleoprotein Sequence Analysis There was significant separation between Reston Virus and Ebola Virus protein sequences. This protein showed significant relationships and branching between non-human host Ebola Virus and the Nigerian lineages. Glycoprotein Sequence Analysis There was significant separation between Reston Virus and Ebola Virus protein sequences. There was weak branching and separation of the Nigerian lineages and non-human Ebola Virus.

Summary The whole genome sequence analysis showed the strongest evidence that there was no non-human transmission of the Ebola Virus into the Nigerian infected population. This analysis supports the findings of Folarin et al. The strongest protein that reflects this modeling is the nucleoprotein. This suggests that the nucleoprotein may have a function in human pathogenicity. In Pappalardo et al. the nucleoprotein was not heavily investigated. VP24, VP30 or VP40 were expected to have the greatest differences between the Nigerian lineage and non-human host Ebola genomes.

Limitations and Considerations As mentioned in the current state of the field, there are not many viral genomes in the database from non-human hosts. Interspecies transmissions of Ebola Virus are limited and occur without ease (Weingartl et al. 2012). There may be a progression of pathogenicity between Reston Virus and Ebola Virus, but the genomic evidence is not there (Pappalardo et al. 2016). Ebola Virus is a small genome virus that mutates rapidly; current modeling is limited because of lack of information. Outbreak from West Africa was a tremendous addition to the database, but relationships may not be easily determined with any significance. The index transmission from non-human host to human requires immediate investigation in which under current policies, does not occur in a retro-oriented response to an outbreak. When an Ebola Virus outbreak occurs, it may be critical to obtain a viral genome as early as possible.

Bioinformatics and Genomics for Ebola Virus As mentioned in the introduction the genomic modeling from Folarin et al. represents a complimentary function to contact tracing, contact tracing still plays a significant role in determining transmission. The human pathogenicity of the Ebola Virus is still under investigation and requires more research (Pappalardo et al. 2016). Reston Virus may have a connection to the human pathogenicity, but it is not entirely understood (Weingartl et al. 2012). Genomics and bioinformatics still have potential to play a critical role in outbreak management. Obtaining viral genomic data is extremely dangerous in the frontlines of an outbreak. Sequencing data requires only knowledge and computers and can be completed continents away from an outbreak. Genomic viral sequencing has the potential to increase the number of researchers who would be otherwise be vulnerable to infection, by keep them far away from an infected population.

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Introduction Primary Research Methods Data and Results Discussion References