RAPID Proposal: Ebola virus stability in the environment - Implications for outbreak control

这项研究将测试埃博拉病毒在各种材料表面、环境环境和生物样本类型上的持久性，并测试普通家用消毒剂对这些材料的去污效果。了解病原体如何在表面和环境中生存，对于最大限度地减少和阻止传染病的传播至关重要。被埃博拉病毒污染的无生命物品，如床上用品、家具和衣服，可能在疾病传播中发挥重要作用，但令人惊讶的是，关于埃博拉病毒在宿主生物外的稳定性，我们所知的信息非常少。这项研究将对2014年埃博拉病毒爆发产生直接影响。它可能揭示以前未知的感染源，进而提供预防病毒暴露的新策略。调查人员将利用他们以前开发的一种生物控制的埃博拉病毒模型系统。在这个模型系统中，埃博拉病毒经过修饰，缺乏编码一种必需病毒蛋白的基因。由此产生的修饰病毒在形态上与真正的病毒没有区别，但它对小鼠、豚鼠和非人灵长类动物等动物没有致病性，因此可以在生物安全3级控制设施中进行研究。该研究将确定病毒在玻璃、金属、塑料等普通家居表面、水、土壤、污水等环境材料以及粪便、尿液、血液、呕吐物等生物材料上的持久性。研究人员将评估病毒在不同的潜伏期以及不同的温度和湿度水平下的持久性。此外，还将在模型系统中测试常见消毒剂的功效。这项研究的结果将为当前埃博拉病毒爆发提供关键信息，并将有助于遏制埃博拉病毒在未来的传播。

This research will test the persistence of the Ebola virus on various material surfaces, environmental settings and types of biological samples, as well as test the efficacy of common household disinfectants in decontaminating these materials. Understanding how a pathogen survives on a surface and in the environment is critical to minimizing and stopping the spread of an infectious disease. Inanimate items contaminated with Ebola virus, such as bedding, furniture, and clothing, could play a major role in the spread of disease and yet there is surprisingly very little information known about the stability of the Ebola virus outside of a host organism. This research will have immediate impacts on the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak. It may reveal previously unknown sources of infection and in turn, offer new strategies to prevent viral exposure. The investigators will utilize a biologically contained Ebola virus model system that they have previously developed. In this model system, the Ebola virus has been modified and lacks the gene that encodes for an essential viral protein. The resulting modified virus is morphologically indistinguishable from the authentic virus, yet it is non-pathogenic to animals such as mice, guinea pigs and nonhuman primates so that the research can be conducted in a biosafety level-3 containment facility. The research will determine the viral persistence on common household surfaces such as glass, metal and plastic, environmental materials such as water, soil, and sewage, as well as biological materials such as stool, urine, blood and vomit. Researchers will assess the viral persistence for different incubation periods, as well as for variable levels of temperature and humidity. Furthermore, the efficacy of common disinfectants will be tested in the model system. Results from this research will provide critical information for the current Ebola virus outbreak and will help curtail the spread of Ebola virus in the future.