Ebola is characterized as a filovirus which means its looks similar to a piece of “tread,’ or filament that has been curled up. Like many other viruses Ebola cannot replicate on its own and needs help from the host cell. It is defined as an enveloped virus and takes part of the host cell’s membrane with it when it leaves the cell. It can infect a number of different cells in the human body such as white blood cells, liver cells and cells of the adrenal glands. The genome of Ebola is single strand RNA and that is where it stores its genetic information. The RNA in the virus provides instructions for the host cell to make new viral proteins which are then released to infect other cells in the body.
It can take from 2 to 21 days after
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In other words when an outbreak begins there is no sure way of knowing how the first human got infected. After much research scientist have come to believe that the first patient became infected through contact with an infected animal such as a fruit bat or a primate such as an ape or monkey. The virus is spread through human-to-human transmission. In order words, it is spread via direct contact with body fluids from an infected person or contaminated objects from infected persons. Humans can also be exposed to the virus by killing an infected …show more content…
HIV is a round, ball shaped virus and unlike Ebola it has two single strands of RNA for its genome. The RNA is used to carry the genetic information that is passed on when the virus produces a new HIV particle. HIV belongs to the retro virus family and the genus lentivirus which describes how HIV copies its genetic information and also describes the progression of the virus which is very slow. Like Ebola, HIV takes part of the host cells membrane as the virus leaves to make a membrane for itself, in other words HIV is an enveloped virus. The HIV virus attacks the CD4 helper lymphocyte cell and destroys them which makes it harder for the body to fight off infections. The immune system is weakened in a person infected with HIV as it is in a person infected with Ebola.
HIV is said to be a descendant of SIV or simian (monkey) immunodeficiency virus. A type of chimpanzee in Central Africa was identified by scientist as the source of HIV infection in humans. As per scientist the chimpanzee version of this disease was transmitted to humans and then it mutated into HIV when humans in need of food hunted these animals for meat and came into contact with their blood. The disease spread across Africa and over the years spread all over the