In BulletsExploring different antiviral treatments and techniques for viral diseases and viruses yet to emerge is of great importance. Researchers recently demonstrated a method for trapping viruses using virus-encapsulating DNA origami shells. They did this by taking advantage of viruses' propensity for heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). Heparin and heparan sulfate (HS) derivatives were incorporated in the shell's interior, which can entrap viruses including adeno, adeno-associated, chikungunya, dengue, human papilloma, noro, polio, rubella, and SARS-CoV-2. There may be more than one virus particle trapped based on the size of the shell to virus particles.
More information: Monferrer et al. (2022). Broad-Spectrum Virus Trapping with Heparan Sulfate-Modified DNA Origami Shells. ACS Nano. DOI:10.1021/acsnano.1c11328
Journal information: ACS Nano
Using artificial intelligence (AI), scientists at Meta (previously Facebook) have predicted the structures of 600 million proteins from microbes, including bacteria and viruses. Although the ESMFold system from Meta is around 60 times faster in predicting structures than DeepMind's AlphaFold, it isn't accurate. On a "metagenomic" database—DNA sequenced in bulk from environmental sources such as soil, ocean, the human gut, and skin—meta-researchers evaluated their hypothesis. Millions of the protein structures predicted by the study are new to science.
More information: Ewen Callaway (2022). AlphaFold’s new rival? Meta AI predicts shape of 600 million proteins. Nature. DOI:10.10.1038/d41586-022-03539-1
Journal information: Nature
Some people in Shanghai, China, are taking COVID-19 boosters by inhalation, the first roll-out of a needle-free COVID-19 vaccine created by biotechnology company CanSino Biologics. It is a mist sucked via the mouthpiece of a sealed cup. In a state media outlet's web video, one participant commented, "It was like sipping a cup of milk tea." Since SARS-CoV-2 enters the body through the nose and mouth, vaccinations that prepare immune cells in these tissues should swiftly halt the virus from spreading, preventing even mild symptoms and transmission. Globally, over 100 oral or nasal vaccinations are in the development stage.
More information: Ken Moritsugu (2022). Afraid of needles? China using inhalable COVID-19 vaccine. Associated Press
Website information: Associated Press