Human Ebola virus infection in West Africa: a review of available therapeutic agents that target different steps of the life cycle of Ebola virus

Table 1 Available therapeutic agents that target the different steps of the EBOV life cycle as shown in the diagram

Medication	Mechanism of action
Convalescent blood serum	Contain neutralizing antibodies to provide passive immunity.
Na⁺/K⁺ exchanger	Inhibit virus uptake by macropinocytosis.
- Amiloride	Inhibit virus uptake by macropinocytosis.
Chloroquine¹	Leads to alkalinization of endosomes and prevent the acid pH-dependent cleavage of Ebola virus GP_1,2 by endosomal proteases cathepsin B and L.
Cationic amphiphiles	Induce a Niemann-Pick C-like phenotype and block the entry of EBOV through late endosomes.
Amiodarone¹
Dronedarone¹
Verapamil²
Clomiphene
Toremifene¹
Interferon- beta (IFN-β)	Induce interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMP) production to restrict entry of EBOV.
Favipiravir	Suppress viral RNA polymerase.
Na+/K+/ATPase pump inhibitors	Inhibit Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase that are important in the budding and egress of encapsulated EBOV.
Ouabain
Digoxin
Digitoxin
Anti-oxidants	Suppress ROS-dependent NFκB activation and cytokine dysregulation induced by GP_1,2-induced ER-overload.
High dose N-acetylcysteine infusion

¹Chloroquine, Amiodarone, Dronedarone and Toremifene administration is associated with an increased risk of QT prolongation and Torsades de pointes. ²Verapamil should be avoided in patient with hypotension.

ISSN: 2049-9957