Han identificado dos enzimas en las células, imprescindibles para que el virus se reproduzca y que, en el caso de ser bloqueadas, provocan que el virus pierda su capacidad de infectar.
Los científicos utilizaron en el laboratorio inhibidores de enzimas de amplio espectro en células de mamíferos antes de exponerlas al Ébola. Al inhibir una de esas enzimas, llamada catepsina B, la infectividad del virus quedó prácticamente eliminada. La otra enzima, llamada catapsina L, desempeña un papel accesorio, señalan los científicos.
En la actualidad ya se están desarrollando inhibidores de las catepsinas con el objetivo de que actúen como fármacos antitumorales. Ahora también se estudiará su eficacia antiviral.
En palabras del Dr. Anthony Fauci, director del Instituto Nacional de Alergia y Enfermedades Infecciosas (NIAID) de Estados Unidos, esta nueva investigación arroja luz sobre el mecanismo que utiliza el virus Ébola para entrar en las células, y los hallazgos abren la puerta a una terapia antiviral de amplio espectro que podría ser efectiva contra múltiples virus causantes de fiebre hemorrágica.
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