A Description of Ebola
The Ebola virus is formally known as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Under a microscope it looks like a tangled strand of spaghetti but it is actually a very simple virus which only contains 7 genes. Whereas the virus which causes chickenpox which has 70 genes. The virus's target cells are the macrophages and dendritic cells which are needed to launch immune responses.
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Ebola Virus Structure For the Ebola virus to function correctly each of its components must be in working order. In the inside of the virus lies the RNA genome which contains all of the virus's genetic information that controls all the actions of the virus. Encircling the RNA genome are the nucleoproteins, the VP40 proteins and VP24 proteins. These proteins form a major component of the ribonucleoprotein complex which is responsible for replication of the virus. Holding all of this together is the viral envelope which is responsible for protecting the virus from the host's immune system. The last and final structure is the glycoprotein. The glycoprotein serve to identify and bind to cells. Without them the virus cannot a
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