A druggable pocket in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein that could be used to stop the virus from infecting human cells has been discovered by an international team of scientists led by the University of Bristol. The researchers say their findings, published today [21 September] in the journal Science, are a potential 'game changer' in defeating the current pandemic and add that small molecule anti-viral drugs developed to target the pocket they discovered could help eliminate COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 is decorated by multiple copies of a glycoprotein, known as the 'Spike protein', which plays an essential role in viral infectivity. Spike binds to the human cell surface, allowing the virus to penetrate the cells and start replicating, causing widespread damage.
In this ground-breaking study, the team headed by Professor Christiane Schaffitzel from Bristol’s School of Biochemistry and Professor Imre Berger from the Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, used a powerful imaging technique, electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), to analyse SARS-CoV-2 Spike at near atomic resolution. Enabled by Oracle high-performance cloud computing, a 3D structure of SARS CoV-2 Spike protein was generated allowing the researchers to peer deep inside the Spike identifying its molecular composition.
Sadly due to the many safely measures in licencing medications I very much doubt that this will help in the short or medium term. However in the long term it could be very helpful in following waves.
Dear 4greys, thanks for posting. I’ll look it up. It’s excellent news if it translates to a drug to treat Covid quickly. Hopefully in molecular science there’s a breakthrough waiting that’s badly needed - because a vaccine that’s efficacious, and safe across the whole population appears a remote possibility. Although in UK they are ready and willing to roll one out, unlicensed, if it’s appears safe enough on a trial of a relatively small population!
- I forwarded the article to a scientist friend of mine - and this is his reaction. ...... doesn’t suggest we get too hopeful too quickly - sadly. ......
Interesting discovery but I would advise caution. These things can take years to make it into therapeutic use, if they ever do, and much can go wrong along the way. I remember a drug (MK801) that showed remarkable promise for treating stroke. It worked by binding to Calcium channels in the membranes of cells in the brain and preventing the entry of Ca2+ ions. Normally these ions play a crucial role in cell function but when the cells are deprived of oxygen following a stroke the ion channels open wide and Calcium floods in, killing the cells. When given to Guinea Pigs within 1-3 hours of an artificial ischaemic event (they had their carotid arteries pinched off) MK801 gave near 100% protection from cell death and the associated pathology of stroke. Unfortunately it transpired that the drug formed a permanent bond with the ion channel blocking any future movement of Calcium into the cell. Rats on which it was subsequently tested were unable to form new memories ever again (they were put into a paddling pool of water with milk powder in it, hidden below the surface of the water was a block onto which they could climb to get themselves safely above the surface. Untreated rats swam about, bumped into the block and climbed up onto it. The next time they were put in the pool they swam straight to the block and climbed on. Treated rats …. well, they weren’t so lucky). That one never made it into human trials!
It also strikes me that in order to be protected from Sars Cov-2 by a drug that works this way you would have to take it every day until the virus was no longer in circulation.
Well it may takes years to get this into a vaccine but it is the best news I have read for ages and gives me hope for the future. If this looks as promising as it reads it should be fast tracked and put onto the market for testing, without it taking years to be approved. Thank you 2greys x
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