Bristol Researchers Make Discovery That Could Stop COVID-19
This finding of a druggable pocket within COVID-19 Spike protein, researchers said, could result in a new anti-viral drug to end and remove the virus even before it penetrated the human cells, firmly preventing it in tracks.
COVID-19 is described to have a "druggable pocket on its surface" that can be injected with anti-viral medicines that it will end its work, giving a chance of treatment.
According to the University of Bristol researchers, their new finding was "ground-breaking" with a hope to stop COVID-19 in its tracks.
Leading the research team were Bristol's School of Biochemistry Professor Christiane Schaffitzel and Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology's Professor Imre Berger.
This "druggable pocket" on the surface of the virus, the team said, could be injected with anti-viral medicines that could stop its function before it penetrates the human cell.
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'Linoleic Acid'
As indicated in the study, the virus occurs to use a molecule known as "linoleic acid" or LA to attach itself to human cells; then, it duplicates.
Here, the study authors explained, there's the linoleic acid, "A molecule at the center of those functions," going non-functional in COVID-19 patients, with dreadful consequences.
Then, the virus that brings all this chaos, the researchers continued, based on their data, "Grabs and holds on to exactly the linoleic acid," fundamentally disarming much of the defenses of the body.
This latest development offers the first direct association between linoleic acid, pathological manifestations of COVID-19, and the virus itself.
The question now, scientists said, is "how to turn this new knowledge" from the virus itself and defeat the current global health crisis.
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Positive about the Discovery
According to Professor Schaffitzel, the research team at Bristol are optimistic about this discovery. She added a similar approach could be utilized to develop "small-molecule anti-viral drugs" against COVID-19.
In a news report, the professor said, from other illnesses, they know that tinkering with the linoleic acid metabolic acid pathways can activate "systematic inflammation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pneumonia."
The professor also explained that "if we look at HIV" after three decades of study that worked, "In the end," is a concoction of small-molecule anti-viral medicines "that keeps the virus at bay."
In the United States, President Donald Trump has proudly shared that Pfizer, a famous pharmaceutical firm, could "win the race" to develop the COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking to a reputable media company, President Trump said, "Pfizer is doing really well," as he cited competition in the country, mentioning Johnson & Johnson, "which will probably be a little later."
COVID-19 Update
Since the onset of the pandemic, more than 31.7 million confirmed cases and over 970,000 deaths globally had been reported.
Of all the affected countries, the United States remains to be the country with the highest number of confirmed cases, which, as of this writing, has reached more than 6.8 million cases and over 190,000 deaths.
Meanwhile, of all the 50 US states, California has the highest number of cases, with 784,324 and 15,071 deaths since the pandemic.
IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: Tricare Issues an Apology Statement After Telling 600k Beneficiaries They've Had COVID-19.
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Sep 22, 2020 10:26 PM EDT
