Weak spots of the Ebola virus have been uncovered by scientists of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Science Daily reported.

The discovery was made as they observed how ZMapp antibodies attacked the dreaded virus. ZMapp is an experimental cocktail of drugs given to several Ebola patients.

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Structural Biologist Andrew Ward said that knowing the specific weak spots that were targeted by ZMapp have helped them gain valuable insights. This will enable them to develop much more efficient drugs to combat Ebola.

The experimental drug cocktail ZMapp was used last August on several Ebola patients, said 9&10 News. Out of the seven Ebola patients given ZMapp, five survived and recovered.

Scientists back then, however, were reluctant to confirm that ZMapp was responsible for their recovery.

The Scripps research study may now be able to explain how ZMapp was able to stop the Ebola virus. TSRI scientists discovered ZMapp antibodies bind themselves to the Ebola virus to stop it from entering cells.

Another antibody binds itself close to the bottom of the virus that warns the body's immune system on where to stop the infection.

The study also found out that two particular antibodies are competing with one another to bind themselves at a particular site in the virus. According to C. Daniel Murin, who took part in the study, future drugs may include only one of the stronger antibodies or may include a third antibody that can bind itself to a different part of the Ebola virus.

Ebola virus has undergone more than 300 changes in its genetic makeup. But so far, the antibodies in ZMapp seem unaffected by the changes.

Mapp Biopharmaceutical is the developer of ZMapp. Despite the success of the drug, other laboratories are also developing their own antibody drugs to combat Ebola virus.

A consortium is currently testing all possible drugs that can effectively treat Ebola, including ZMapp. By early 2015, ZMapp is expected to be used in clinical trials.

The Canadian public health agency and the U.S. Army were the ones that initially isolated the antibodies used in the ZMapp cocktail.

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