An article titled “Tracking the 2014 Ebola Outbreak Through Its Genes” (Smithsonian.com, August 2014)
highlights the efforts of the Broad Institute at Harvard University to track the spread of the Ebola virus
using genetic detective work. The Ebola outbreak has severely affected several areas of Central and
West Africa, with especially devastating impact in Sierra Leone.
The article highlights a study that utilized a population-based genetic analysis to study Ebola virus
samples collected from 78 people in Sierra Leone diagnosed with Ebola. Through this research, 395
unique mutations of the Ebola virus were identified (for study results published in Science, click here). By
analyzing these mutations, scientists were able to track the transmission cycles and evolutionary history
of the virus.
A digitally-colorized scanning electron micrograph
(SEM) of Ebola virus particles. (NIAID)
This is but one example of how genetic research can be useful in addressing serious public health problems. The findings from the Broad Institute can eventually indicate which vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests would prove most effective in the field.
It is important to acknowledge the efforts of the health workers, researchers, and scientists who have dedicated their time to care for those affected with Ebola virus. The outbreak has taken a heavy toll on study authors, including some of those who were integral to sample collection for the 1000 Genomes Project (Mende in Sierra Leone).
