--- description: The doctor, who contracted the disease in west Africa, gives blood to help NBC journalist fight the disease title: Ebola Survivor Dr Kent Brantly Donates Blood to Infected Journalist image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5fe49f96c55bbf27/6986a2e7169ab06d5427b1e1/brantly-ebola-blood.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [ebola](/tag/ebola/) ## ebola Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # U.S. Ebola Survivor Donates Blood to Infected Journalist by [NBC News](/author/nbc-news/) ## NBC News Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 8, 2014 12:08 PM CUT  Dr. Kent Brantly an Ebola patient at Emory Hospital during a press conference announcing his release from the hospital on Aug. 21, 2014 in Atlanta. Dr. Kent Brantly an Ebola patient at Emory Hospital during a press conference announcing his release from the hospital on Aug. 21, 2014 in Atlanta.Jessica McGowan—Getty Images by [NBC News](/author/nbc-news/) ## NBC News Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 8, 2014 12:08 PM CUT The [first American flown back to the U.S. after contracting Ebola](http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/saving-dr-brantly "undefined") has donated blood to an NBC News freelance cameraman who was also diagnosed with the virus. [Photojournalist Ashoka Mukpo’s](http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/nbc-freelancer-ashoka-mukpo-enormously-relieved-be-nebraska-n219426 "undefined") family told NBC News early Wednesday that [Dr. Kent Brantly](http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/whats-stake-humanity-ebola-survivor-brantly-warns-n205331 "undefined") was contacted by the Nebraska Medical Center and asked to give plasma. Experts hope the survivor’s antibodies will kick-start Mukpo’s immune system. Brantly was on a road trip from Indiana to Texas when he received a call from the medical center telling him his blood type matched Mukpo’s… [Read more from our partners at NBC News](http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/ebola-survivor-dr-kent-brantly-donates-blood-ashoka-mukpo-n220811?cid=par-time-article%5F20141008 "undefined") ### See The Tobacco Leaves That Could Cure Ebola  Tobacco plants are grown for six weeks in the Medicago greenhouse in Quebec City so their leaves are large enough to serve as a factory for making antibodies. The plants are not modified or genetically altered in any way during this time. Mathieu Belanger—Reuters  Researchers at Icon Genetics in Germany prepare the DNA coding for antibodies that can neutralize Ebola. These genes are inserted into a soil bacterium that easily infects the tobacco plant cells. Once in the cells, the gene is treated like any other plant gene and the plant starts churning out the antibodies. Sean Gallup—Getty Images  To infect the leaves with the antibody-containing bacteria, the plants are submerged in a water solution of the loaded bacteria. Plant cells have plenty of empty spaces filled with air, so a vacuum removes the air and the water, along with the bacteria and antibody genes, flow in. Mathieu Belanger—Reuters  The leaf at the bottom has not been treated. The leaf on top is now an antibody-making factory. The plant's normal machinery starts making the antibody as if it is a plant protein. Mathieu Belanger—Reuters  Researchers at Icon Genetics grind the leaves down to filter out the antibodies. Sean Gallup—Getty Images  Ultraviolet light reveals the clusters of cells that are busy making antibodies. One kg of leaves produces about 5g of antibodies, which is about a third of the dose required to treat an Ebola patient. 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