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Four years after the end of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and as the disease continues to wreak havoc in the DRC, new research published in Nature Communications shows that survivors have severe immune system abnormalities two years after being infected. The immune system is the set of cells, tissues and organs that ensure the body’s defense against external agents, especially infectious ones.

During the Ebola epidemic in West Africa (2013-2016), more than 28,000 people were infected and more than 11,000 of them died. While the long-term consequences on the health of survivors are still poorly understood, a growing number of studies describe persistent clinical sequelae in these patients. We speak, for example, of generalized fatigue, musculoskeletal pain or eye disorders.

Saliva, urine and semen samples

A new study, led by Professor Yves Lévy and his colleague Aurélie Wiedemann at the Vaccine Research Institute (Inserm / Université Paris-Est Créteil), is one of the first to focus on the long-term immuno-inflammatory profile Ebola survivors.

The researchers relied on the analysis of blood samples from 35 individuals recruited an average of two years after the onset of their disease. A control group was also set up to compare their immune profiles. Each patient was seen three times to perform these blood tests. In addition, saliva, urine and semen samples were analyzed to rule out the presence of the virus.

Analysis of blood samples indicates that, even when survivors are physically cured and no longer have detectable virus, they still exhibit a distinctive immune profile, different from that of people who never contracted the disease.

In particular, the researchers identified the presence of virus-specific immune cells, called CD4 + and CD8 + memory T lymphocytes, which persist for two years after the disease in the blood of 35 survivors. “We also find a higher number of cytotoxic CD8 + T lymphocytes involved in the destruction of infected cells as well as the presence of IgG antibodies specific to the Ebola virus in these survivors”, note the researchers.

Towards a chronic disease

In addition, the team showed the presence of a significant amount of inflammatory markers in blood samples, which point to the persistence of inflammation in Ebola survivors. Finally, this study demonstrated that certain specific immune markers were associated with the persistence of symptoms in these patients.

These results therefore underline the long-term existence of a persistence of immune activity specific to Ebola and of intense and chronic inflammation in these former patients, two years after having been infected with the virus. “Our work underscores the importance of long-term follow-up of Ebola survivors, which has already been highlighted in studies of clinical sequelae. It is important to see how the state and the immune profile of these people evolves and whether we are moving towards chronic disease, “says Aurélie Wiedemann.

Stephan Meed

A southern gentleman at heart, Stephan is a man you'll find mudding, off-roading, and fishing on a typical weekend. However, a nutritionist by profession, he is also passionate about fitness and health through natural means. He writes mostly health-related content for the Scientific Origin.