Progress towards a vaccine against Ebola to meet emergency medical countermeasure needs

The Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa proved to be the largest in the history of filovirus outbreaks, causing the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency of international concern in August of 2014. In collaboration with domestic and international partners, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) initiated several vaccine development projects in support of the overall response efforts. The urgency associated with the epidemic triggered the clinical evaluation of lead vaccine candidates starting in late 2014. Here we will discuss development of the lead vaccine candidates for Ebola virus, specifically Zaire ebolavirus. Published by Elsevier Ltd.