Structural basis of ribosomal frameshifting during translation of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome sciencemag.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sciencemag.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Most analyses of the antibody responses induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have focused on antibodies cloned from memory B cells. This approach has led researchers to conclude that neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) primarily target the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the virus s spike protein. Voss et al. took a different approach, using proteomic deconvolution of the serum immunoglobulin G antibody repertoire from four COVID-19 convalescent patients. They found that the nAb response was largely directed against epitopes such as the N-terminal domain (NTD), which lie outside the RBD. Several of these nAbs were shared among donors and targeted an NTD epitope that is frequently mutated by variants of concern.
Science , abg5268, this issue p. [1108][1]
The molecular composition and binding epitopes of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that circulate in blood plasma after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infecti
New Artificial Intelligence Tool May Speed Up Drug Discovery Using Images
New Artificial Intelligence Tool May Speed Up Drug Discovery Using Images
Japanese researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to gain insights from cryo-electron microscopy.
Artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning is transforming pharmaceutical drug discovery. Advances in deep learning, a subset of machine learning, is enabling researchers to identify patterns in fields where there are large amounts of complex data, such as imaging.
In a recent study published in Nature Machine Intelligence, researchers in Japan created an AI deep neural network to extract information on protein dynamics from images captured using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
Among the most promising therapeutic options for individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this study, Jones et al . identified, characterized, and tested one such mAb, LY-CoV555, in vitro and in vivo. They found that LY-CoV555 bound to the severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein and prevented its interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. Prophylactic treatment with LY-CoV555 protected the upper and lower respiratory tracts of nonhuman primates from becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2. Together, these data support the clinical use of LY-CoV555 for treating patients with COVID-19.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a public health threat for which preventive and therapeutic agents are urgently needed. Neutralizing antibodies are a key class of therapeutics that may bridge widespread vaccination campaigns and offer a treatment solution in populations less res
Abstract
Substitution for aspartic acid by glycine at position 614 in the spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 appears to facilitate rapid viral spread. The G614 strain and its recent variants are now the dominant circulating forms. We report here cryo-EM structures of a full-length G614 S trimer, which adopts three distinct prefusion conformations differing primarily by the position of one receptor-binding domain. A loop disordered in the D614 S trimer wedges between domains within a protomer in the G614 spike. This added interaction appears to prevent premature dissociation of the G614 trimer, effectively increasing the number of functional spikes and enhancing infectivity, and to modulate structural rearrangements for membrane fusion. These findings extend our understanding of viral entry and suggest an improved immunogen for vaccine development.