The platform for identifying viralSLiMs binding to cellular host factors is shown in the first figure. The weight of the connecting line indicates the affinity of the interaction. There are dark gray lines that show additional evidence found in the other studies. Credit: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26498-z
Our cells are turned into virus factories by Viruses. Researchers at the University have found a way to stop the ravages of the virus, and they have also identified a way to stop the way the disease takes control of our cells.
A lot of work remains to be done before we can say this with certainty, but Ylva Ivarsson, a professor of biochemistry at Uppsala University, says this could lead to the further development of an inhibitor against COVID-19.
All viruses are parasites. The machinery of cells needs to be used to enter and cause the other viruses to grow. To produce more virus particles, the cell needs to be inoculated with new genetic material, which is wrapped in a protective coating and released from the cell to cause more cell damage. The virus can't do it on its own, but it can cause human proteins to help produce it.
Since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, researchers have been trying to find key interactions that can be stopped by existing or completely new medications.
A new method to map interactions on a large scale between human and coronaviruses was developed by the University of Uppsala. They collaborated with a research team at Ume University to show that blocking one of these interactions prevented the spread of the disease. They collaborated with researchers at the University of Copenhagen to confirm the interaction between the human and viral genes. Understanding what happens in the cell when the virus takes over has been improved by this.
There is still much work to be done before researchers can determine if the agent they have found can be developed to treat viral infections.
The project has been worked on during the current Pandemic. Ivarsson says that it has been amazing how quickly research can progress when researchers from different universities and countries work together.
The researchers can demonstrate many interactions with other coronaviruses, such as the one that causes COVID-19. This gives us insight into how various coronaviruses differ and could help us to better prepare for new types of viruses.
The large scale discovery of coronaviruses-host factor interaction motifs reveals specific mechanisms and vulnerabilities. There is a DOI titled: 10.1038/s41467-021-26498-z.
Nature Communications is a journal.
The news about the blocking ofprotein interactions in the fight against the disease was retrieved fromphys.org on November 24th, 2011.
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