title: Human transmission of Ebola virus.
abstract: Ever since the first recognised outbreak of Ebolavirus in 1976, retrospective epidemiological analyses and extensive studies with animal models have given us insight into the nature of the pathology and transmission mechanisms of this virus. In this review focusing on Ebolavirus, we present an outline of our current understanding of filovirus human-to-human transmission and of our knowledge concerning the molecular basis of viral transmission and potential for adaptation, with particular focus on what we have learnt from the 2014 outbreak in West Africa. We identify knowledge gaps relating to transmission and pathogenicity mechanisms, molecular adaptation and filovirus ecology.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Basis of Viral Pathogenicity, International Centre for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111 - CNRS UMR5308, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon 69007, France; Université de Lyon, UMRS 449, Laboratoire de Biologie Générale, Université Catholique de Lyon - EPHE, Lyon 69288, France.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Molecular Basis of Viral Pathogenicity, International Centre for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111 - CNRS UMR5308, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon 69007, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danet
authors.affiliation: Molecular Basis of Viral Pathogenicity, International Centre for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111 - CNRS UMR5308, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon 69007, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Reynard
authors.affiliation: Molecular Basis of Viral Pathogenicity, International Centre for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111 - CNRS UMR5308, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon 69007, France.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Volchkova
authors.affiliation: Molecular Basis of Viral Pathogenicity, International Centre for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), INSERM U1111 - CNRS UMR5308, Université Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon 69007, France. Electronic address: viktor.volchkov@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Volchkov
mesh_terms: D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans