The Ebola virus is one of the world's deadliest. It creates an especially aggressive form of hemorrhagic fever which, in the worst cases, will send a patient into shock before death, after bleeding internally and externally.

Kentucky BioProcessing extracts a substance from genetically engineered tobacco plants to make what's called a "humanized" version of Ebola antibodies. These antibodies are combined to make a treatment cocktail called MB-003.

Monkeys, which can be infected with the Ebola virus just like humans, were tested with MB-003 at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). They were treated with MB-003 for five days following the infection's onset. In 43% of the tests, the monkeys survived.

The Owensboro facility can produce MB-003 quickly and cheaply so that needs may be met more expeditiously, according to Kentucky BioProcessing COO Barry Bratcher.

The World Health Organization has kept track of outbreaks of Ebola--which first appeared in 1976--including separate recent ones in the Congo.

UPDATE: This blog was originally published 10 months ago. In the last week, the very serum mentioned here has been used to treat American aid workers in Africa who were stricken with the deadly virus.

 

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