A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has safely isolated a strain from the lethal Ebola virus that may break down some research safety restrictions and foster the development of a vaccine.
The discovery genetically disarms the virus and confines it to a set of specialized cells, making it easier and safer for study.
“We wanted to make biologically contained Ebola virus,” Yoshihiro Kawaoka, the team’s research leader, said in a statement. “This is a great system.”