There is a new hypothesis that links the onset of oxidative stress (ROS-positive blood cells) to the consumption of high levels of inorganic sulfur in the Western Diet. In West Africa, the Western Diet is not consumed by the majority of the population, which results in low levels of oxidative stress. If the Ebola virus is vulnerable to oxidative stress, then a switch to the Western Diet may reduce the lethality of Ebola.
Catalase is a ubiquitous antioxidant enzyme that degrades hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Ebola virus possibility might have catalse activity similar to Herpes Simplex Virus. Among both catalase enzymes, hydroperoxidase I (HPI) and HPII, which catalyze the dismutation of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, one might be there. Catalase is also secreted by some virulent bacteria
May be the hypothesis is true, but to what extent is the benefit seen.
The Ebola virus is a ssRNA virus with a relatively small genome of ~19kb. It only contains 7 known genes, and none of them are believed to encode a catalase.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Medicine
- Disease
- Infectious Diseases