The potential epidemic threat of Ebola virus and the development of a preventive vaccine

Ebola virus(EBOV)is classified as a category A pathogen as it causes viral hemorrhagic fever,one of the most-deadly virus-related diseases.Since its discovery in 1976,EBOV has caused a number of global public health incidents,which have posed a serious threat to both humans and non-human primates.Thus,numerous preventive vaccine studies are underway,including research on inactivated vaccines,DNA vaccines,subunit vaccines,virus-like particles,Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles,and several viral vector vaccines.The vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine Ervebo was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the European Union,and several other vaccines have also been proven to confer potent protection in non-human primates against EBOV lethal challenge.This review provides a brief background of EBOV,with a focus on the epidemiology,available animal models,and advances in preventive approaches for EBOV infection.