Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever and Septic Shock

Ebola virus is the cause of sporadic outbreaks of lethal Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) in central Africa. Despite the difficulties of studying this virus much has been learned over the past decade about the pathogenesis of Ebola virus infection in humans and nonhuman primates. Two articles in this issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases report further progress. The article by Bosio et al. confirms findings that the virus is able to infect dendritic cells (DCs) impairing their innate antiviral activity and limiting their ability to initiate adaptive immune responses. The article by Geisbert et al. identifies a molecular trigger for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) through the expression of tissue factor (TF) on the surface of virus-infected monocytes and macrophages. Together these findings shed light on early events that both permit rapid viral dissemination and cause some of the major features of EHF. (excerpt)