Question 19M.2.SL.TZ1.1f
| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 2] | Reference code | 19M.2.SL.TZ1.1f |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | TZ1 |
| Command term | Outline | Question number | f | Adapted from | N/A |
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is the disease in humans and other primates that is caused by the Ebola virus. Fruit bats are the reservoir for the virus and are able to spread the disease without being affected. Humans can become infected by contact with fruit bats or with people infected by the virus, their body fluids or equipment used to treat them.
The table shows data for four African countries that were affected by the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak.
[Source: adapted with permission, from Ebola Situation Report, figure 1, http://apps.who.int/ebola/current-situation/ebolasituation-
report-2-march-2016, March 2016, and from Successful treatment of advanced Ebola virus infection with T-705
(favipiravir) in a small animal model, Oestereich, L. et al, 2014, under CC BY 3.0]
The graphs show the progress of the EVD epidemic in Guinea and Liberia for the period April 2014 to May 2015.
[Source: Ebola Situation Report 2 March 2016 and data from International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 38,
Ligui Wang et al, Epidemiological features and trends of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, 52-53.,
Copyright 2015, with permission from Elsevier]
An antiviral drug, T-705, was tested in order to establish whether it has potential to treat EVD. The graph shows the data from an in vitro trial of T-705 on cells that had been infected with Ebola virus five days previously. Virus concentration and live cells are shown as percentage of the control.
[Source: Oestereich, Lisa & Rieger, Toni & Neumann, Melanie & Bernreuther, Christian & Lehmann, Maria & Krasemann,
Susanne & Wurr, Stephanie & Emmerich, Petra & de Lamballerie, Xavier & Ölschläger, Stephan & Günther, Stephan. (2014).
Evaluation of Antiviral Efficacy of Ribavirin, Arbidol, and T-705 (Favipiravir) in a Mouse Model for Crimean-Congo
Hemorrhagic Fever. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 8. e2804. 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002804.]
Based on these data, outline the evidence that T-705 has potential to be used as a treatment for EVD.
[2]
a. cells not killed/few cells killed «even at high concentrations» ✔
b. «T-705» effective/viruses reduced/viruses killed at 100 μM
OR
«T-705» very effective/viruses much reduced/nearly all viruses killed at 1000 μM ✔
c. virus concentration decreases as T-705 concentration increases ✔
d. drug has «high» potential for treatment «at high enough concentration» ✔
Graph was well read and understood by most. The question was answered with more insight than expected, especially when alluding to the implications of live cells at high drug concentrations
