Since the outbreak,
There have been many new research directions
to help people better protect themselves before the virus.
Just a while ago,
A research team from the University of Toronto
Published the latest research papers
Add another solution to COVID-19!
According to the official website of the University of Toronto,
Researchers at the University
A compound was developed
It can neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus and several of its variants.
Recently published in
In the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
In one paper,
Researchers say they created D-peptides (D-peptides)
can neutralize viruses,
And prevent cultured human cells from becoming infected.
This compound is also known as a "mirror peptide",
Its chemical properties are well suited for development
Low-cost anti-COVID-19 virus therapy.
Peptides and proteins are made of
The same amino acid composition,
But peptides are smaller than protein molecules.
They can be combined by design
Almost any target molecule,
and has greater specificity than small molecule drugs,
Thus reducing the risk of side effects.
Therefore peptides are similar to antibodies,
But because of its small size,
Production costs are at least 100 times lower.
Low cost and easy to scale production
This makes peptides more attractive.
It is because of the unremitting efforts of these researchers,
Only then did we gradually see new hope for defeating the epidemic.
Several different attempts have also been mentioned in previous articles.
In addition to the most mainstream prevention methods at present - vaccines.
Merck & Co. also announced it not long ago
With its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics
Experimental oral antiviral drugs were jointly developed.
Previously, the University of Georgia
A new study says,
Drugs that specialize in the treatment of gout
Probenecid
opportunities to treat COVID-19,
And the price is quite inexpensive.
At the beginning of this year,
The Montreal Cardiology Institute in Canada announced that
They found colchicine.
Positive effects in COVID-19 treatment trials,
It is expected to help non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients fight against the virus
At the same time, it can also reduce the mortality rate of severe COVID-19.
The key to this study
In the understanding of the editor, it seems that it should be
The mirror peptide just mentioned.
Because of all naturally occurring amino acids
all exist in a left-handed configuration,
This comes from the direction in which they rotate.
All proteins and peptides are also left-handed – called L peptides.
But the problem is peptides in the human body,
will be rapidly degraded by enzymes,
The role of these enzymes is to destroy bacteria
harmful peptides produced by other pathogens,
But the researchers found a solution
Able to resist degradation,
It is a mirror peptide.
From the naming of L-L peptides,
Xiaobian feels that the mirror peptide does not need to think that it is definitely called R peptide
Ran Goose...
One of the lead authors of the study,
Professor of Molecular Genetics and Computer Science
Philip Kim and his team developed a tool,
For designing amino acids with inverse geometry:
D-肽。
They are able to resist enzymes in the blood that break down normal L peptides.
After that, postdoctoral researcher Pedro Valiente
Join Kim's lab,
In May 2020,
Valiente has been created to prove to be
Compounds of effective inhibitors of the virus,
It took them another year
to prove that they work as expected in human cells.
Valiente designed several D peptides,
simulated viral spike area,
This region in turn binds to ACE2 receptors on the cell surface.
Peptides bind to human cells before virus contact,
Thus preventing infection.
This hypothesis was later confirmed experimentally.
Professor Kim said
These peptides are effective against alpha, Beta, and Gamma variants,
And according to the similarity to the receptor binding domain,
These D-peptides should also work on Delta.
Since now on the market
Methods for COVID-19
There are already some,
Kim's team has shifted the focus of research from the fight against COVID-19
Moving to the development of a universal therapy,
Produces efficacy for all coronaviruses, including SARS and MERS,
to prevent future outbreaks.
Kim is working with Boston Biotech
Decoy Therapeutics collaboration,
Promote and commercialize his research.
Hopefully, more ways to target viruses will emerge in the future
Bring greater confidence to everyone in the fight against the virus.