Edxcel alevel biology past papers: some of the blood plasma of individuals who have survived infection wtih Ebola can be collect
ed. This can be used in the treatment of individuals currentlty infected with Ebola. Explain why the blood plasma from survivors can be used to treat new cases of Ebola infection.
This was the only treatment options adopted for the Ebola in 1995 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The assumption was that immune response is generated by the virus in the WBC of the infected individuals. These response produce antibodies.
A total if 8 patients were transfused with these blood contained antibodies, but one of these died, the remaining 7 patients survived.
The antibodies were believed to have multiplied(produced b-cells) to neutralize the Ebola virus(antigens) and to ensure the survival of the patients