Title : Investigating the effect of ezetimibe in the treatment of Ebola disease
Abstract:
Marburg and Ebola viral fevers are highly severe afflictions that have a detrimental impact on both the human species and non-human primates. These ailments manifest themselves in a multitude of symptoms, encompassing hemorrhages, elevated body temperatures, cranial discomfort, muscular and abdominal distress, chills, soreness in the throat, feelings of nausea, head pain, as well as bouts of diarrhea. Furthermore, individuals suffering from these diseases may also experience elevated levels of liver-associated enzymes and coagulopathy.
The etiological agents accountable for Marburg and Ebola hemorrhagic fevers are the Marburg virus, discovered in Lake Victoria, and distinct strains of Ebola viruses, respectively. These viruses are categorized as enveloped, ssRNA viruses and belong to the Filoviridae family. It is important to note that the mortality rates associated with filovirus disease outbreaks are strikingly elevated, varying from 25 to 90% or even higher.
However, there is a glimmer of hope in the treatment of Ebola disease as survivors have shown hypercholesterolemia, which suggests that cholesterol-lowering drugs may hold potential as effective treatment options. One such drug is Ezetimibe, which exhibits a greater affinity for the NPC1L1 receptor compared to cholesterol. Additionally, cholesterol demonstrates a higher affinity for the NPC1L1 receptor than the Ebola virus.
