When Mutation Counters Infection: From Sickle Cell to Ebola

While pharmaceutical companies focus on drug discovery for Ebola virus disease, a powerful clue is coming from a rare �Jewish genetic disease� that destroys the brain. People with Niemann-Pick C1 disease can�t get Ebola, adding to the list of disease pairs that arise from a fascinating form of natural selection.

Balanced polymorphism, aka heterozygote advantage, is a terrific illustration of ongoing evolution. And it pits the human body against all sorts of invaders � prions, viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi.