Attacking the virus membrane glycoprotein molecule acts on viruses, regardless of strain and even type. In laboratory experiments, it effectively destroyed and Ebola, herpes, and influenza.
Creating a universal vaccine that could combat a wide range of viruses, faces an uncertain future. Viruses are extremely dissimilar to each other, they are plastic, they mutate and change very quickly, so that even a drug effective against one strain of seasonal influenza virus a year later will not be necessary. The sudden breakthrough in this direction has been brought about by scientists from Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) in cooperation with the developers at IBM Almaden Research Center.
The authors decided to completely ignore the DNA or RNA of viruses that mutate very quickly and concentrate on attacking its shell. Its key parts are also extremely volatile, but the chemical nature remains unchanged. Here, glycoproteins connect fragments of proteins and sugars, which not only protect the genome of the virus but also to ensure its entry into host cells. Scientists have calculated and then synthesized macromolecules composed of difficult monomers that are repeated.
A small surface charge allows macromolecules to be electrostatically attracted to the membrane glycoprotein virus. Preventing sharing of the virus through the formation of hydrogen bonds, these molecules do not allow it to infect cells. In addition, the sugar mannose residues on the surface of the molecule allow it to bind to the same receptors on immune cells that attack viruses and prevents them from resisting immune response.
If the virus associated with the molecule is still able to penetrate cells, the amino groups on the surface will create a local increase in pH in the intracellular environment, complicating the yield of nucleic acid from the shell.
Thus, the attack on the disease develops in several directions: the virus itself and the processes associated with infection and immune suppression. “We are inspired by the opportunities that the new approach,” one of the key authors, James Hedrick said in a press release distributed by IBN. -“We look forward to working with other universities and organizations to extend the applicability of this method.”
Meanwhile, scientists have conducted preliminary laboratory experiments with typical representatives of these groups of viruses like Dengue, Chikungunya, Ebola, Marburg, enterovirus 71, influenza and herpes. It has been shown that the use of the polymer effectively protects mammalian cells in vitro from infection, while not making an impact on their own livelihoods.
Source :http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.macromol.6b00091
This advanced technology exists in Ukraine. The Bioengineering Rehabilitation for Wounded project has for the past 18 months proven it. For the men enrolled in the project, this advanced technology is the only way to avoid disability and physical limitations. Here in Ukraine they can be provided with this assistance. The number of men who have been put back on their feet by the project’s doctors is growing. And many more wounded military personnel are in need of medical care which can not be provided in public institutions, and often not even abroad. We ask you to get involved in fundraising to support Ukraine’s military.
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