Scientists
create 3D atomic map of novel coronavirus replication mechanism
In
the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is an enzyme called the main protease, which
activates its replication when it touches a human cell. For the first time,
scientists have completed a 3D map showing the atom in the molecule of this
enzyme As Covid-19 cases re-emerge in several countries, this 3D map will allow
scientists to better understand how coronavirus behaves and can be stopped how.
The mapping is done by researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory under
the US Department of Energy. The results were published in the Journal of
Biological Chemistry. SARS-CoV-2 produces long protein chains. When these
chains are separated and cut into smaller strands, they allow the virus to
reproduce.
This
function is performed by the primary protease. Its structure: two molecules of
the same protein are bound together by hydrogen bonds. If a drug is not
developed that inhibits or inhibits protease activity, it will prevent the
virus from reproducing and spreading to other cells in the body. Investigators
have used a process called neutron crystallography. A site containing amino
acids where protein chains are cut, this test revealed, is in an
energy-efficient state - not in a resting or neutral environment, contrary to
previous beliefs. Second, researchers calculated the location of each hydrogen
atom in the areas where drug antibodies could bind protease enzymes, as well as
the electrical costs of the corresponding amino acids.
Previous
research on Nature Communications formed the complete atomic structure of the
protease enzyme. New research builds on that. The team will now use the latest
data to investigate the obligations of drug molecule participants to develop
improved Covid-19 therapies. Research is novel in a number of ways. It is the
first time anyone has discovered the neutron structure of the coronavirus
protein. Researchers say that this is the first time that anyone has observed
this group of protease enzymes using neutrons. Moreover, the fact that the
protein chains were cut at a site operating in an electric environment, rather
than being neutral, was a surprising discovery.
Europe’s
second Covid-19 wave
Following
the retrenchment of new cases in June-August, Europe now reports a much higher
rate of cases than ever before. The US, too, continues. In March, April and
May, Europe as a whole reported between 35,000 and 38,000 cases of Covid-19
daily, of high quality. The numbers dropped slightly after that as the United
States and later, India emerged as the majority of the epidemic. For the most
part in June, July, and even August, Europe reported less than 20,000 cases a
day, about a third or a quarter of what India alone reported. In October,
however, there was a sharp increase in cases in Europe. The second wave of
infection in Europe is worse than the first.
On
Thursday 29th, 2020, Europe reported more than 2.5 lakh cases in one day,
according to data stored on our global website at data.org. The US, which has
had a slightly different trajectory than Europe, is also in the middle of the
second wave. Daily numbers in the US have been over 30,000 since June, but in
August and September, they were much lower than the 50,000-60,000 reported
report. On current waves, the number of new cases every day has already crossed
88,000. Security cuts While there may be various reasons after the recurrence
in Europe and the US, experts point to two broader possibilities: a reduction
in routine alert after numbers begin to sink in the summer and a drop in
temperature pressurize many household chores. Cold, dry weather can also help
to keep the virus alive and strong, even though the evidence is limited.
Europe
seems to have gained independence in June and July, when numbers are starting
to fall. People began to travel long distances, even for leisure. And this has
contributed to the increase we are seeing now. This is what we need to learn
about this disease and we need to be careful. The virus did not go anywhere,
even if the numbers dropped. Spain, for example, received 2.5 million visitors
in July, after almost no international visitors in March, April, and May.
In
the United States, school holidays end in late August, and colleges begin
operating. We have two months from all those events and for the virus to
multiply, it takes a while, something is missing. So this increase is
completely unexpected. Surprisingly, one would expect these people, who are
supposed to be more knowledgeable, to do a better job in developing
non-pharmacological methods to control the epidemic, but that does not seem to
be the case.
The
potential role of climate change. “As temperatures drop, more people are living
in houses. Viral transmission is most effective in these settings. Therefore,
while the virus remains present, the effectiveness of transmission may increase
when people come together especially in confined spaces. There are studies that
have shown that the infection may increase during contact in confined spaces.
In Australia it can avoid a major increase during the winter of the southern
hemisphere due to the best compliance to wearing a mask.
In
fact, this year, there has been a dramatic decline in flu cases in Australia,
as people have been wearing masks. Also, the population is very low, and the
Australian winter is happening, when people are still very scared of the virus
and the winter is forcing people to enter the house, their communication would
not be denied. “It's not like people live alone in homes. As is often the case
during this time, jobs shift to homes in the winter… And in small areas and poor
ventilation, the chances of the virus infecting and infecting people are much
higher.
It
caused many new diseases in Europe and spread throughout Europe by travelers to
and from Spain. However, research also shows that there is no direct evidence
that these new genes spread more rapidly than others or that they led to more
serious diseases. In fact, while new alternatives are gaining momentum, it is
not yet clear whether they are leading to rapid price growth. India's second
wave in India, the number of new cases every day has hit the mid-September
price, and has been declining ever since. On September 16, India received
97,894 new cases, the highest of any country per day. Between 45,000 and 50,000
new cases are currently being detected. But districts such as Delhi and Kerala
are already seeing a new wave of disease. In fact, Delhi is passing through the
third wave now, as it has seen two cycles of peaks and descends to the front -
each peak higher than the previous one. Whether India will also go through a
European-like revival during the winter cannot be predicted.