The first in the world!

my country reveals the fine structure of the new coronavirus

　　Hong Hengfei, Wang Rui, reporter of Science and Technology Daily, Jiang Yun

　　On the 16th, the reporter learned from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine that the research team of Academician Li Lanjuan of the State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis and Treatment of Zhejiang University First Hospital and the research team of Researcher Li Sai of the School of Life Sciences of Tsinghua University have analyzed the real new coronavirus for the first time in the world. The three-dimensional fine structure of the whole virus has reached an unprecedented resolution, which is of great significance for in-depth understanding of the biological characteristics of the new coronavirus, vaccine design, and antiviral drug development.

　　Coronavirus is named for its outer corona like a corona. These corona substances are called spike proteins, which are glycoproteins and are the "key" for the virus to enter human cells.

This research carried out scientific research directly on the virus, and analyzed the natural conformation and distribution of the spike protein on the surface of the new coronavirus in situ.

　　Researchers have found that the spike protein of the new coronavirus can swing freely on the surface of the virus like a "strand hammer". The characteristics of "thick upper end and thinner end" help the virus "grab" the cell surface flexibly and bind to invading cells. Infect the human body.

Researchers have also discovered that the direction of the new crown virus spike protein is a hidden mystery-the spike protein is likened to an umbrella. When an umbrella is opened, it is called "upward". It is like showing a weapon and infecting cells; when the umbrella is closed Called "downward", it is like putting away a weapon to avoid being defeated by the body's recognition.

97% of the spike protein of the new coronavirus is down, which is one of the reasons why it is not easily defeated by antibodies and drugs.

　　In addition, the scientific research team groundbreakingly revealed the natural structure and assembly mechanism of the ribonucleoprotein complex of the virus cavity-these complexes organize the ribonucleic acid together like a bead and arrange them in an orderly manner in the virus body. The problem of accommodating ribonucleic acid beyond its own capacity in a limited space also strengthens the structure of the virus itself so that it can withstand the challenges of various physical and chemical factors in the complex environment outside the human body. This is an important reason for the long-term survival of the new coronavirus in the external environment. factor.

　　The genetic engineering vaccines currently being developed are based on the research results of recombinantly expressed spike proteins in vitro. Is there any difference between this and the virus in situ?

Are the vaccines that have been developed effective against the virus?

The scientific research team further analyzed the glycosylation composition of the spike protein by mass spectrometry and found that the recombinantly expressed spike protein in vitro is highly similar to the glycosylation modification of the spike protein in the virus in situ. This is useful for inactivated virus vaccines and genetic engineering. The development of recombinant vaccines and neutralizing antibodies has important guiding significance.

The research results have been published in the international authoritative journal "Cell".