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Revealed: Protein 'spike' lets the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pierce, invade human cells
Phys.Org ^ | February 20, 2020 | by Jianling Xie, The Conversation

Posted on 04/02/2020 11:51:35 AM PDT by Red Badger

Researchers in the United States have unveiled the structure of the "spike protein" of 2019-nCoV—the virus behind the current coronavirus disease outbreak.

Despite the fact that researchers have already pieced together the virus's genetic sequence, the World Health Organisation has warned that a vaccine is still 18 months away.

But knowing the structure of the virus's spike protein gives us crucial information about exactly how the virus infects host cells. This could be a vital piece of the puzzle in making the hoped-for vaccine a reality.

What is a spike protein?

A viral spike protein is like a key that "unlocks the door" to gain access to the cells of a specific host—humans, in this case. To understand how to deal with 2019-nCoV, we first need to understand what this key looks like, and what "keyhole" it targets on human cells. This is exactly what the new paper, published overnight in Science, is all about.

The researchers, led by Jason McLellan of the University of Texas at Austin, defined the structure of 2019-nCoV's spike protein using a technique called cryogenic electron microscopy, or "Cryo-EM". This involves cooling the protein to below -150℃, so that it crystallises and then its structure can be determined with near-atomic resolution.

The newly discovered molecular structure of the 2019-nCoV spike protein, which the virus uses as a ‘key’ to gain access to human cells. Credit: Wrapp et al. 2019/Science

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They also identified the "keyhole", the host cell receptor: it is a human protein called angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This is the same human receptor protein targeted by the earlier SARS coronavirus.

But, disturbingly, the researchers found that 2019-nCoV binds to ACE2 with much higher affinity (10-20 times higher!) than SARS. In other words, 2019-nCoV's "key" is a lot "stickier" than the SARS one. It's like a SARS "key" covered in superglue. This means that once it's in the lock, it's far less likely to be shaken loose and is therefore presumably more effective at invading our cells.

So what about a vaccine?

The researchers reasoned that, given that both viruses attack the same protein on human cells, it would be worth seeing whether the already available antibodies against SARS-CoV would work against 2019-nCoV. Unfortunately, they didn't work.

This means we still have to wait for a stronger solution to this problem. Perhaps this is a reflection of the ongoing "arms race" between humans and viruses. We have stronger weapons now, thanks to scientific advances, but our enemies are gaining strength too—now they are using superglue against us!

Globally, the competition is heating up to hunt for the best anti-2019-nCoV vaccine. But as the old Chinese proverb says, "distant water can't put out a nearby fire". The earliest clinical trials to test a suitable vaccine will not be available until several months or even a year after a candidate vaccine is identified, and the global coronavirus outbreak may well be controlled by then.

The discovery of the 2019-nCoV spike protein structure therefore represents both good news and bad. The good news is now we know what it looks like, it will be easier to find the most suitable weapon against the virus. The bad news is the enemy is much stronger than we thought, and our current ammunition depot doesn't have anything efficient against it.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine; History; Science
KEYWORDS: 2019ncov; bioweapon; chinavirus; chinavirusinfo; chinavirusnews; coronavirus; covid19; mit; vaccine

1 posted on 04/02/2020 11:51:35 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

...the World Health Organisation has warned that a vaccine is still 18 months away.


Yeah. The WHO in January said that you couldn’t get this virus from other people through the air.

They are as worthless as the UN’s IPCC. Actually they are both worse than useless. Their misinformation is downright dangerous.


2 posted on 04/02/2020 11:53:33 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The political war playing out in every country now: Globalists vs Nationalists)
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To: Red Badger

They make it sound unique when that’s how virii work.


3 posted on 04/02/2020 12:01:50 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: Red Badger

The people that do this for a living give the term brainiacs a new meaning,. In my eyes.


4 posted on 04/02/2020 12:02:57 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: cuban leaf; bitt; null and void; Jane Long; radu; Kathy in Alaska; DarthVader; LS; ...

Who were the politicians, including Presidents before DJT, who okayed our prescription medications, OTC medications, medical devices, vaccines, antibiotics, food stuffs, clothing, pet food, etc. to be made by the Communist Chinese and actually trusted them while personally taking billions to stuff into their own personal bank accounts? Or, bank accounts of family members. Shall we check Zero, Pelosi, Feinstein, Clintoons, Paul Ryan, Romney, and the rest of the political hacks! When did the Communist Chinese become our trusted friends going back to the unsettled end of the Korean War? Trust your enemies at your own peril!

Any vaccines we get from now on better not come from China and India, etc. who was using Chinese ingredients.

Now, remember all the medications you’ve swallowed for how long from China. Wonder what was in them now?


5 posted on 04/02/2020 12:04:07 PM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
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To: SpaceBar

They make it sound unique when that’s how virii work.

True dat!


6 posted on 04/02/2020 12:05:04 PM PDT by Flick Lives (A liberal is someone who worries that somewhere, someone is enjoying life.)
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To: SpaceBar

It’s written for lay people...................


7 posted on 04/02/2020 12:05:06 PM PDT by Red Badger (If people were to God like dogs are to people, the world would be a really great place..............)
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To: Red Badger
Weren't companies and researchers announcing antibodies six weeks ago?

Here's one...

13 February 2020, "Vir Biotechnology discovers two antibodies against new coronavirus."

8 posted on 04/02/2020 12:07:19 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Red Badger

It’s written to frighten lay people.


9 posted on 04/02/2020 12:12:45 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: CGASMIA68

Brits call them ‘Boffins’........................


10 posted on 04/02/2020 12:19:47 PM PDT by Red Badger (If people were to God like dogs are to people, the world would be a really great place..............)
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To: SpaceBar
"It’s written to frighten lay people."

With associate images that are incomprehensible .


11 posted on 04/02/2020 12:25:27 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Rebelbase

Thats why I skipped it, out of my league


12 posted on 04/02/2020 12:29:51 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: Red Badger

Hmmm...from January...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3812556/posts?page=71;q=1#71

“Uncanny similarity of unique inserts in the 2019-nCoV spike protein to HIV-1 gp120 and Gag”

That article was withdrawn... https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.30.927871v1


13 posted on 04/02/2020 12:43:49 PM PDT by polymuser (It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and so few by deceit. Noel Coward)
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To: SpaceBar

True, but this one’s key protein is an especially good fit. Thus it is better at invading thru your mucous membranes into cells.


14 posted on 04/02/2020 12:56:55 PM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur: non vehere est inermus)
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To: Red Badger

But look on the bright side!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_coronavirus_pandemic#Epidemiology

United States

Cases 238,063

Deaths 5,764

Recoveries 10,324

[Records to be added throughout the day.]


15 posted on 04/02/2020 1:04:53 PM PDT by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." - -Costco greeter in the movie, "Idiocracy")
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To: Red Badger

Its almost like it was engineered.


16 posted on 04/02/2020 1:46:54 PM PDT by lonestar67 (America is exceptional)
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To: lonestar67

Every so often, God likes to clean house............................


17 posted on 04/02/2020 1:51:33 PM PDT by Red Badger (If people were to God like dogs are to people, the world would be a really great place..............)
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