



The researchers found out that benzoquinoline inhibited the ability of Ebola virus to multiply and reproduce in cell culture. Ebola virus, a member of the filovirus family, is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus that causes very severe disease in humans.





The largest outbreak ever recorded for the filovirus family was caused by Ebola virus in West Africa between 2013 and 2016, resulting in more than 28,000 infections and more than 11,000 deaths.





There are no approved drugs to treat Ebola virus or other filovirus infections, so there is a very serious need for new therapeutic approaches.





A potential antiviral target is the viral machinery and activities involved in carrying out RNA synthesis for Ebola virus.





During the course of the study, the researchers screened a collection of 200,000 small molecule compounds to identify potential inhibitors of Ebola virus RNA synthesis.





They identified 56 hits that inhibited Ebola virus activity by more

than 70 percent, while showing less than a 20 percent chance of being toxic to cells. They discovered three chemical structures with potent antiviral activity against Ebola virus in cell culture.





Human lung epithelial cells and human embryonic kidney cells were exposed to several viruses, Ebola virus, Marburg virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and Zika virus, and the antiviral effects of the three chemical structures were observed.





Marburg virus One of these chemical structures, benzoquinoline, showed antiviral activity against Ebola virus and was also active against another deadly filovirus,. Benzoquinoline was also effective against vesicular stomatitis virus from the rhabdovirus family, which can infect insects, cattle, horses and pigs, and Zika virus , which is spread to humans by mosquitoes.





According to Dr. Priya Luthra of Georgia State “This study is part of a larger effort to find new therapies to treat highly dangerous Ebola virus infections,” said lead author.