Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of a gene from the ebola virus

1. A double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a gene in the Ebola virus in a cell, wherein said dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein said sense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 153 and wherein said antisense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 154.

2. A cell comprising the dsRNA of claim 1 .

3. A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the expression of a gene from an Ebola virus in an organism, comprising the dsRNA of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

4. A method for inhibiting the expression of a gene from the Ebola virus in a cell, the method comprising:

(a) introducing into the cell a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA), wherein said dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein said sense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 153 and wherein said antisense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 154; and

(b) maintaining the cell produced in step (a) for a time sufficient to obtain degradation of the mRNA transcript of a gene from the Ebola virus, thereby inhibiting expression of a gene from the Ebola virus in the cell.

5. A method of increasing life-span of a subject infected with an Ebola virus, comprising administering to the subject a dsRNA, wherein said dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein said sense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 153 and wherein said antisense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 154, and wherein said dsRNA is administered in an amount sufficient to increase the life-span of said subject.

6. A method of treating or managing pathological processes mediated by Ebola expression in a patient, comprising administering to said patient a dsRNA, wherein said dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein said sense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 153 and wherein said antisense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 154, and wherein said dsRNA is administered in an amount sufficient to treat or manage said pathological processes mediated by Ebola expression in said patient.

7. A method of decreasing viral titre in a subject infected with an Ebola virus, comprising administering to the subject a dsRNA, wherein said dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein said sense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 153 and wherein said antisense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 154, and wherein said dsRNA is administered in an amount sufficient to decrease Ebola viral titre in said subject.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the platelet count in said subject is sustained while said viral titre decreases.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the lymphocyte count in said subject is sustained while said viral titre decreases.