Ebola vaccine: Difference between revisions

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

mNo edit summary
 
CSV import
 
Line 1: Line 1:
= Ebola Vaccines =
{{Infobox vaccine
| name = Ebola vaccine
| image = Study Participant Receives NIAID-GSK Candidate Ebola Vaccine (3).jpg
| caption = A study participant receives a candidate Ebola vaccine.
| type = Vaccine
| target = [[Ebola virus]]
| vaccine_type = Viral vector
| tradename = Ervebo, Zabdeno, Mvabea
| legal_status = Approved
| routes_of_administration = Intramuscular
}}


[[File:Ebola virus virion.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Microscopic view of the Ebola virus]]
The '''Ebola vaccine''' is a vaccine used to prevent [[Ebola virus disease]], a severe and often fatal illness in humans caused by the [[Ebola virus]]. The development of an effective vaccine has been a significant public health priority, especially following the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.


== Introduction ==
==Development and Approval==
'''Ebola vaccines''' are medical vaccines developed to prevent the spread of Ebola, a deadly virus that causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever in humans. The development of these vaccines has been a critical part of the global health response to Ebola outbreaks.
The first Ebola vaccine to be approved was Ervebo, developed by Merck. It is a recombinant, replication-competent vaccine that uses a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) as a vector to express a glycoprotein from the Zaire ebolavirus. This vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in November 2019 and by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2019.


== History and Development ==
[[File:Ebola virions.png|thumb|Electron micrograph of Ebola virions.]]
The quest for an effective Ebola vaccine accelerated during the early 21st century. Several vaccine candidates were developed and tested for their efficacy, particularly in protecting nonhuman primates, like macaques, against lethal Ebola infection.


[[File:Ebola Vaccine Study in West Africa (33833442616).jpg|thumb|left|A laboratory involved in vaccine research]]
The vaccine was initially tested in clinical trials during the 2014-2016 outbreak, where it demonstrated high efficacy in preventing Ebola virus disease. The vaccine is administered as a single dose and is recommended for individuals at high risk of exposure, such as healthcare workers and those in outbreak areas.


== rVSV-ZEBOV: The First Approved Ebola Vaccine ==
==Mechanism of Action==
In December 2019, rVSV-ZEBOV became the first Ebola vaccine approved in the United States. Key aspects of this vaccine include:
The Ebola vaccine works by using a viral vector to deliver a piece of the Ebola virus's genetic material into the body. This genetic material codes for the Ebola virus glycoprotein, which is expressed on the surface of the vector virus. The immune system recognizes this glycoprotein as foreign and mounts an immune response, producing antibodies and activating T-cells that can recognize and destroy the Ebola virus if the vaccinated individual is exposed in the future.
* Extensive use in the Kivu Ebola epidemic under a compassionate use protocol
* High efficacy rate in preventing Ebola virus disease


== Other Vaccine Candidates ==
[[File:Recombinant formation of plasmids.svg|thumb|Diagram of recombinant DNA technology used in vaccine development.]]
In addition to rVSV-ZEBOV, several other Ebola vaccine candidates have been under development and testing. These include:
* Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo vaccine regimen
* cAd3-EBO Z
* Ebola Sudan vaccine candidates


== Clinical Trials and Usage ==
==Types of Ebola Vaccines==
Ebola vaccines have undergone rigorous clinical trials to ensure their safety and effectiveness. These vaccines have been used in various Ebola outbreak regions, significantly reducing the spread of the virus.
There are several types of Ebola vaccines under development or in use:


[[File:Ebola outbreak in Gulu Municipal Hospital.jpg|thumb|right|Clinical trial research for Ebola vaccines]]
* '''Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV)''': A live attenuated vaccine using the VSV vector.
* '''Zabdeno and Mvabea''': A two-dose regimen developed by Johnson & Johnson, using an adenovirus vector for the first dose and a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector for the second dose.


== Challenges and Future Directions ==
==Challenges and Future Directions==
The development and distribution of Ebola vaccines face several challenges, including:
While the development of the Ebola vaccine has been a major success, challenges remain. These include ensuring widespread access to the vaccine in affected regions, maintaining cold chain logistics for vaccine storage, and continuing research to improve vaccine efficacy and safety.
* Vaccine storage and transport in remote areas
* Ensuring adequate vaccination coverage in outbreak regions
* Continued research for vaccines against different strains of Ebola


== References ==
==Also see==
* ''Development and Approval of rVSV-ZEBOV''. John Doe, Vaccine Development Journal, 2023.
* [[Ebola virus disease]]
* ''Ebola Vaccines: Progress and Challenges''. Jane Smith, Global Health Review, 2022.
* [[Viral vector vaccine]]
* [[Vaccine development]]
* [[Public health]]
 
{{Vaccines}}


[[Category:Vaccines]]
[[Category:Vaccines]]
[[Category:Ebola]]
[[Category:Ebola]]
[[Category:Medical research]]
[[Category:Public health]]
[[Category:Virology]]
 
{{stub}}

Latest revision as of 02:43, 11 December 2024

Template:Infobox vaccine

The Ebola vaccine is a vaccine used to prevent Ebola virus disease, a severe and often fatal illness in humans caused by the Ebola virus. The development of an effective vaccine has been a significant public health priority, especially following the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Development and Approval[edit]

The first Ebola vaccine to be approved was Ervebo, developed by Merck. It is a recombinant, replication-competent vaccine that uses a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) as a vector to express a glycoprotein from the Zaire ebolavirus. This vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in November 2019 and by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2019.

Electron micrograph of Ebola virions.

The vaccine was initially tested in clinical trials during the 2014-2016 outbreak, where it demonstrated high efficacy in preventing Ebola virus disease. The vaccine is administered as a single dose and is recommended for individuals at high risk of exposure, such as healthcare workers and those in outbreak areas.

Mechanism of Action[edit]

The Ebola vaccine works by using a viral vector to deliver a piece of the Ebola virus's genetic material into the body. This genetic material codes for the Ebola virus glycoprotein, which is expressed on the surface of the vector virus. The immune system recognizes this glycoprotein as foreign and mounts an immune response, producing antibodies and activating T-cells that can recognize and destroy the Ebola virus if the vaccinated individual is exposed in the future.

Diagram of recombinant DNA technology used in vaccine development.

Types of Ebola Vaccines[edit]

There are several types of Ebola vaccines under development or in use:

  • Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV): A live attenuated vaccine using the VSV vector.
  • Zabdeno and Mvabea: A two-dose regimen developed by Johnson & Johnson, using an adenovirus vector for the first dose and a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector for the second dose.

Challenges and Future Directions[edit]

While the development of the Ebola vaccine has been a major success, challenges remain. These include ensuring widespread access to the vaccine in affected regions, maintaining cold chain logistics for vaccine storage, and continuing research to improve vaccine efficacy and safety.

Also see[edit]