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Vol. 62, No. 20
Published in the interest of Fort Huachuca personnel and their families. Online @ www.aerotechnews.com/forthuachuca/ or via smartphone.
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Army researchers look for permanent end to Ebola virus
Story and photo by ECBC Communications
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The
U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, or
ECBC, and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute
of Infectious Diseases, or USAMRIID, are partnering to
help expedite progress in the global fight against Ebola. devastating disease.
ECBC is working with USAMRIID on two critical
studies — a vaccine study and a biomarker study — that
will advance the global fight against Ebola.
Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infec-
tion with the Ebola virus. The largest Ebola outbreak in
history, which began in December 2013, is still ongo-
ing. This disease has a high death rate — to date, there
have been 22,000 cases and 9,000 deaths attributed to
the most recent outbreak — with no known cure or ef-
fective vaccine. ECBC and USAMRIID are trying to
change that.
USAMRIID, the Department of Defense’s lead labo-
ratory for medical biological defense research, called
upon the ECBC-US Army Medical Research Institute
of Chemical Defense Mass Spectrometry Core Facility
to assist with two of its ongoing Ebola research pro-
grams — characterizing a potential vaccine and identi-
fying biomarkers of infection.
For the vaccine work, ECBC is analyzing several dif-
ferent vaccine preparations provided by USAMRIID
to quantify VP40 and glycoprotein concentrations ex-
pressed in virus-like particles generated from Ebola
(strains Zaire and Sudan). The aim is to monitor quality Ebola-infected serum to discover a protein-based panel tosampler. This new equipment relieves the burden on
control of the vaccine production process and to deter-
mine if a correlation can be made between protective
immunity and the amount of Ebola-specific structural
2/13th Aviation welcomes new commander, bids one farewell
Story and photo by Natalie Lakosil
Staff Writer
Two Soldiers’ paths changed direction during a
change of command ceremony Wednesday morning at
Libby Army Airfield.
Incoming Commander Lt. Col. Daniel Isabell took
control of the 2nd Battalion 13th Aviation Regiment
from outgoing Commander Lt. Col. Clinton Conzem-
ius.
“In my opinion there is not another training battal-
ion that has the ability to so significantly impact such
an important asymmetric capability that Army avia-
tion and military intelligence bring to the fight,” said
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proteins, GP and VP40, which are pres-
ent. This type of research is foundation-
al in creating a long-term solution to a
“Our role was to blindly and inde-
pendently quantitate the amount of
protein present in each vaccine com-
bination. With this information, we
hope to better understand the varying
degrees of protection observed during
the vaccine study,” said Trevor Glaros,
an ECBC mass spectrometry core fa-
cility manager leading the ECBC/US-
AMRIID Ebola collaboration. U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and U.S. Army Medical Research
In addition to vaccine research, Institute of Infectious Diseases researchers, with help from Thermo Fisher Scien-
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ECBC is also supporting USAMRIID liquid chromatography pump and auto sampler to help analyze biomarkers for a
to discover Ebola-specific biomarkers possible Ebola vaccine.
in serum. The scientists will analyze
of biomarkers. existing instrumentation and, given its technological
“The hope is that this panel of biomarkers will consti- advancements, allows for a more rapid and thorough
tute a unique fingerprint for Ebola infection, which can analysis. ECBC’s contribution to USAMRIID’s Ebola
be used to diagnose patients before symptoms develop,” research demonstrates how various organizations team
stated Lisa Cazares, the USAMRIID researcher leading up to provide solutions for the world’s most difficult and
the project. A tool like this would give first responders dangerous challenges.
the ability to administer the appropriate care and the un- “It is important for us to support our DOD part-
precedented ability to track the disease outbreak in real ners with this kind of critical research,” said Jennifer
time. Biological analysis of this scope required addi- Sekowski, Ph.D., of ECBC. “Our goal in creating the
tional instrumentation, which ECBC was able to secure Mass Spectrometry Core Facility in 2013 was to set up
from its partner, Thermo Fisher Scientific. a collaborative resource for all of the DOD. We have
Thermo Fisher Scientific loaned ECBC a complete the equipment, the expertise, and the necessary safety
Q Exactive Plus mass spectrometry system with a protocols in place, so we are thrilled to be able to share
Dynex nanoflow liquid chromatography pump and au- it with our partners.”
Brigade Commander Col. Shawn Prickett, 1st Aviation Incoming Commander Lt. Col. Daniel Isabell, 2nd Battalion 13th
Brigade, Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Aviation Regiment, addresses the crowd as the new battalion
“Much of that is due to the personal efforts and lead-
ership of Clint Conzemius,” Prickett added. I know you commander during the change of command ceremony at Libby
positively impacted hundreds of individual Soldiers, $UP\$LU¿HOG:HGQHVGD\
leaders and families. Dan, you’ve got big shoes to fill
literally and figuratively but I know you will answer
the call. Without a doubt this team and family here at
2/13th will embrace you and your family so you can
continue this awesome responsibility.”
Conzemius has been stationed at Fort Huachuca
for the past 24 months. He is retiring from the Army
and will reside in Patagonia where he plans to reinvent
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