Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more stories like this in the near future.

Amber Sutton of Al.com reported.

Auburn University researchers developed potential Ebola treatment with one small ‘tweak’ in virus molecules

AUBURN, Alabama — An Auburn University research team is hoping to slow down or possibly stop Ebola by making one small change in the molecular compounds that make up the deadly virus, according to the university.

Auburn University Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Stewart Schneller led a team of researchers in the project, which is expected to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry.

Schneller, who has studied Ebola for the past decade, has focused on combatting a variety of virus-caused infections by designing a new drug candidate featuring a compound that may reverse the immune-blocking abilities of certain viruses, including Ebola.

“In simple terms, the Ebola virus has the ability to turn off the body’s natural immune response,” Schneller said. “We have made a small tweak in compound structure that will turn that response back on.”

Currently there are no drugs to combat Ebola, and the death toll from recent outbreaks in West Africa is approaching 1,000, according to the World Health Organization. Immunizations might one day lessen the virus’ impact, but vaccines have limitations that other drugs do not.

“Vaccines offer a promising therapeutic approach, but they can’t be given to everyone in a population, including the young, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems,” said Schneller. “This and other factors support the need for drug therapy as we fight this disease.”