Small molecule inhibitors reveal Niemann–Pick C1 is essential for Ebola virus infection

Take a look at this beautiful Forward Chemical Genetics approach to the investigation of the cellular entry of the Ebola virus. They are using a nice combination of tools, including affinity purification with a photo-crosslinker, to explore the mode of action of the discovered small molecule inhibitor. Interestingly, another paper in the same issue of Nature identified the importance of the same protein using non-small molecule methods.