How do Ebola reproduce?

The Ebola virus replicates by a unique mechanism known as the "Filovirus replication cycle." Here is an overview:

1. Attachment: The Ebola virus has glycoprotein spikes on its surface that help it attach to specific receptors on the surface of host cells. These receptors are often located on immune cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells.

2. Entry: Once attached to the host cell, the Ebola virus enters the cell through a fusion process. The viral envelope fuses with the cell membrane, allowing the viral nucleocapsid to be released into the cytoplasm of the host cell.

3. Transcription: The viral nucleocapsid contains the viral RNA genome. Once inside the host cell, the RNA genome is transcribed by the cellular RNA polymerase into viral messenger RNA (mRNA).

4. Translation: The viral mRNA is translated by the host cell's ribosomes into viral proteins, including the viral structural proteins (glycoproteins, nucleocapsid protein, matrix protein, and polymerase) and the viral non-structural proteins (required for viral replication and assembly).

5. Replication: The viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) uses the viral RNA genome as a template to synthesize new copies of the viral genome. This replication process occurs in the cytoplasm of the host cell.

6. Assembly: The newly synthesized viral proteins and genomic RNA assemble into new viral particles. The glycoproteins are incorporated into the viral envelope, which surrounds the nucleocapsid containing the viral RNA genome.

7. Release: The assembled viral particles are released from the host cell by budding from the cell membrane. During the budding process, the viral envelope acquires a lipid membrane derived from the host cell membrane.

8. Infection Spread: The released viral particles can then spread and infect other susceptible cells, leading to the continuation of the Ebola virus replication cycle and the spread of the infection within the host.