Jahrling needed to figure out what specific virus was present in the monkeys from the monkey house. To do this, he had to place drops of the monkeys’ blood onto slides and then treat them with different chemicals and blood serums. The only way Jahrling would know if the monkeys had a certain virus or not was that if the monkeys’ blood glowed a bright color. He was testing for three different viruses: the Marburg virus, the Ebola Sudan virus, and the Ebola Zaire virus. Once several hours passed, then the culture experiment was ready to be observed. Jahrling had to look at the results under a microscope and in complete darkness, or then the results would be impossible to determine and document. He saw various cells in the lens. The blood serum labeled Musoke, which was testing for the Marburg virus, resulted in no glow. The blood serum labeled Boniface, which was testing for the Ebola Sudan virus, resulted in a very dim and small glow. The blood serum labeled Mayinga, which was testing for the Ebola Zaire virus, resulted in the strongest and most phosphorescent glow. The monkeys’ blood did in fact contain the Ebola Zaire virus. Jahrling was completely shocked to find out that the monkeys were actually dying of the Ebola Zaire virus and not the Marburg virus. This case was much deadlier and terrifying than what Jahrling ever imagined it would be (Preston, 1994, pg.163-165).
Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York: Random House.
The Mayinga blood serum produced a glow when it came into contact with the Ebola Zaire virus because of the Ebola Zaire virus’ outer membrane structure. There is a certain protein on its outer surface which is responsible for any and all interactions with other organisms or forms of matter. The surface protein is known as the EBOV glycoprotein (GP). The glycoprotein interacts with the surface proteins on the Mayinga blood serum cells. They lock together, resembling the lock and key feature of enzymes and their binding sites. This interaction activates the protein/gene that codes for the phosphorescent, vibrant glowing (Lee, 2010) (Preston, 1994).
Lee, J., & Saphire, E. (2010, March 1). Ebolavirus glycoprotein structure and mechanism of entry. Retrieved June 11, 2015, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829775/
Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York: Random House.
Jahrling needed to figure out what specific virus was present in the monkeys from the monkey house. To do this, he had to place drops of the monkeys’ blood onto slides and then treat them with different chemicals and blood serums. The only way Jahrling would know if the monkeys had a certain virus or not was that if the monkeys’ blood glowed a bright color. He was testing for three different viruses: the Marburg virus, the Ebola Sudan virus, and the Ebola Zaire virus. Once several hours passed, then the culture experiment was ready to be observed. Jahrling had to look at the results under a microscope and in complete darkness, or then the results would be impossible to determine and document. He saw various cells in the lens. The blood serum labeled Musoke, which was testing for the Marburg virus, resulted in no glow. The blood serum labeled Boniface, which was testing for the Ebola Sudan virus, resulted in a very dim and small glow. The blood serum labeled Mayinga, which was testing for the Ebola Zaire virus, resulted in the strongest and most phosphorescent glow. The monkeys’ blood did in fact contain the Ebola Zaire virus. Jahrling was completely shocked to find out that the monkeys were actually dying of the Ebola Zaire virus and not the Marburg virus. This case was much deadlier and terrifying than what Jahrling ever imagined it would be (Preston, 1994, pg.163-165).
ReplyDeletePreston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York: Random House.
Hi Kimberly, what exactly about the interaction with the Ebola Zaire virus caused the Mayinga blood serum to glow?
DeleteThe Mayinga blood serum produced a glow when it came into contact with the Ebola Zaire virus because of the Ebola Zaire virus’ outer membrane structure. There is a certain protein on its outer surface which is responsible for any and all interactions with other organisms or forms of matter. The surface protein is known as the EBOV glycoprotein (GP). The glycoprotein interacts with the surface proteins on the Mayinga blood serum cells. They lock together, resembling the lock and key feature of enzymes and their binding sites. This interaction activates the protein/gene that codes for the phosphorescent, vibrant glowing (Lee, 2010) (Preston, 1994).
DeleteLee, J., & Saphire, E. (2010, March 1). Ebolavirus glycoprotein structure and mechanism of entry. Retrieved June 11, 2015, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829775/
Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York: Random House.