The mapping of the viral part, which in English is called spike protein, is an important step in the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs, according to the American research team.
Research leader Jason McLellan and his colleagues have previously researched on nail protein on other coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS. It therefore took them just over three weeks to create their 3D copy of the protein of covid-19. Usually it takes several months.
“As soon as we found out that it was a coronavirus, we felt that we had to take the case. We knew exactly what mutations we could use, because we got those mutations to work on other viruses, ”McLellan writes in a press release from the journal Science.
"Can become antiviral drug"Björn Olsen, a researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology at Uppsala University, tells SVT that the discovery can provide openings for developing antiviral drugs. But he still doesn't think we will get a vaccine on the market until about one to two years.
- It does make some sense that you get a proper structure on the spike protein, but it's too early to say anything yet. It is extremely basic data and more than this is needed before a vaccine production can be started, says Björn Olsen.
He continues:
- But these are absolutely important findings.
The new discovery was made by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and published in the journal Science.