An African arrow poison might provide the key to a cheap new Ebola treatment, British researchers have revealed.
The poison is already in use as a heart drug, known as ouabain.
Liverpool University researchers discovered the possible benefits of the drug through a study of the interaction between the Ebola virus and the proteins in human cells.
Ouabain blocks a protein VP24 which is used by the virus to disrupt the immune system. It is found in seeds and barks of some African plants, already native in many parts of west Africa, including Nigeria and Liberia.
The study was partly conducted at the British research centre at Porton Down, now known as Public Health England Porton.
Researcher Professor Julian Hiscox said: “This study shows how existing therapeutics can be identified and potentially repurposed for anti-viral therapy.
"The technique of using existing and tested drugs for a different purpose can save considerable time and ultimately, lives.”
* According to the World Health Organisation, some 1,841 people had died from the outbreak in west Africa by the end of August. Some 3,685 people are known to have been infected.
Elucidation of the Ebola virus VP24 cellular interactome and disruption of virus biology through targeted inhibition of host cell protein function. Journal of Proteome Research September 2014
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