Evolution and Spread of Ebola Virus in Liberia, 2014-2015

Jason T. Ladner, Michael R. Wiley, Suzanne Mate, Gytis Dudas, Karla Prieto, Sean Lovett, Elyse R. Nagle, Brett Beitzel, Merle L. Gilbert, Lawrence Fakoli, Joseph W. Diclaro, Randal J. Schoepp, Joseph Fair, Jens H. Kuhn, Lisa E. Hensley, Daniel J. Park, Pardis C. Sabeti, Andrew Rambaut, Mariano Sanchez-Lockhart, Fatorma K. BolayJeffrey R. Kugelman, Gustavo Palacios

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Summary The 2013-present Western African Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak is the largest ever recorded with >28,000 reported cases. Ebola virus (EBOV) genome sequencing has played an important role throughout this outbreak; however, relatively few sequences have been determined from patients in Liberia, the second worst-affected country. Here, we report 140 EBOV genome sequences from the second wave of the Liberian outbreak and analyze them in combination with 782 previously published sequences from throughout the Western African outbreak. While multiple early introductions of EBOV to Liberia are evident, the majority of Liberian EVD cases are consistent with a single introduction, followed by spread and diversification within the country. Movement of the virus within Liberia was widespread, and reintroductions from Liberia served as an important source for the continuation of the already ongoing EVD outbreak in Guinea. Overall, little evidence was found for incremental adaptation of EBOV to the human host.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)659-669
Number of pages11
JournalCell Host and Microbe
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2015
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Virology

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