A brief overview of ZMapp & its potential in large-scale treatment for Ebola in humans, by Michael Small, Ping Chi Liu, Zehraa Cheaib, Sheldon Pereira, & Raj Shah at McMaster University, Immunology, Fall of 2014.

1.  18 Rhesus monkeys recovered after ZMapp
administration
No long-term side effects
 ZMapp exceeds efficacy of other therapeutics
Difference in humans is unclear
 Phase 1 in healthy humans
 Administered in 7 infected people

2. Research Question
How does ZMapp function to fight Ebola in
humans and can it be used as a large-scale
treatment method?
Introduction to ZMapp
• Produced in the leaves of
Nicotiana plants
• 3 different humanized MAbs
→ c13C6, c2G4 & c4G7

3. Mechanism of ZMapp
 MAbs bind to EBV
epitope via
glycoproteins
 EBV-bound MAbs lead
to c1q and FcγRI
interaction
 C1q activation leads to
complement response
 FcγRI activation lead to
adaptive immune
response, such as
CD8+ T-cell activation

4. Analysis of Implications
 Time of administration
As late as 5 days after exposure
Can detect Ebola virus at this time
Limited testing capacity in Africa
 Feasibility
20-40 ZMapp doses per month
Plans to ramp up production in the works

5. Analysis of Implications
 Efficacy
5 out of 7 Ebola patients recovered after
administration of ZMapp
45% of patients recovered without treatment
Glycoprotein mutation in the Ebola virus
 Ethical concerns
Conclusion
The article is justified as ZMapp has potential of
impeding progress of Ebola virus but must be
used with precaution until further clinical trials
and safety studies are conducted.