Ebola Virus’ Skin Route: New Study Sheds Light on Potential Transmission Pathway todayheadline

A study from the University of Iowa has uncovered how the Ebola virus (EBOV) may reach the surface of human skin, providing insights into a potential transmission pathway for this deadly virus. While the disease is primarily spread through direct contact with bodily fluids, these findings underscore the possibility of person-to-person transmission via skin contact in the late stages of infection.

The research, published in Science Advances on January 1, 2025, identifies specific cell types in the skin that are targeted by EBOV and offers new models for studying the virus. “The skin is the largest organ in the human body yet is woefully understudied compared to most other organs,” said Wendy Maury, PhD, senior author and professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa. “Our work provides evidence for one mechanistic avenue that EBOV uses to exit from the human body.”

Mapping Ebola’s Journey to the Skin’s Surface

Using an innovative human skin explant model, researchers traced the movement of the Ebola virus through layers of human skin. By placing full-thickness skin biopsies in a culture system and introducing virus particles to the dermal side, the team simulated how EBOV might move from blood vessels to the skin’s outermost layer. Over three days, they tracked the virus’ journey using tagging techniques and identified infected cells.

Among the infected cell types were macrophages, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes. While the first three have been implicated in EBOV infections in other organs, the study is the first to highlight keratinocytes—a cell type unique to the skin—as permissive to the virus. Moreover, viral replication appeared more robust in the epidermal layer than in the dermis, suggesting a rapid spread through the skin.

“This study explores the role of the skin as a potential route of Ebola virus infection,” said Kelly Messingham, PhD, co-lead researcher and professor of dermatology. “In total, these findings elucidate a mechanism by which EBOV traffics to the skin’s surface and may explain person-to-person transmission via skin contact.”

Implications for Public Health and Therapeutics

The findings carry significant implications for managing and understanding Ebola outbreaks. During the 2013-2016 epidemic in West Africa, the presence of infectious EBOV on the skin’s surface of deceased individuals raised questions about skin’s role in transmission. This study provides a cellular explanation and offers a new, cost-effective model for testing antiviral treatments.

“A comprehensive understanding of which cells are targeted during virus infection is critical for rational development of antiviral approaches,” Maury explained. The research team’s skin explant model could become an essential tool for assessing therapeutic interventions.

A Collaborative Effort

The study involved an interdisciplinary team, including researchers from Texas Biomedical Research Institute and Boston University. Funding was provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The findings are a step forward in tackling one of the world’s most challenging infectious diseases.

For further details, access the original study published in Science Advances: DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr6140.

For a broader understanding of Ebola, its symptoms, transmission, and treatment options, visit CDC Ebola Information and the World Health Organization Ebola Fact Sheet.

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