German bioinformatics scientists discovered new weakness of the new coronavirus


　　there are enzymes in the human body that affect the reproduction of the virus

　　International war "epidemic" operation

　　Science and Technology Daily, Berlin, January 11 (Reporter Li Shan) Recently, German bioinformatics scientists have used computer models to identify an enzyme in the human body that is essential for the reproduction of the new coronavirus. If this enzyme is inhibited, the virus will stop. Reproduce without affecting the host cell.

The research helps to find new ways to fight the new coronavirus infection.

　　In addition to vaccines, finding effective drugs for the treatment of new coronavirus infections is also one of the important means to overcome the epidemic.

Now, Dr. Dräger and his team from the German Infection Research Center and the University of Tübingen have discovered a weakness of the new coronavirus through a novel method that can be used to develop targeted drugs.

Bioinformatics scientists used computer models to identify a human enzyme that is essential to viruses.

Dr. Dräger said: "If we turn off this enzyme, guanylate kinase 1 (GK1), the virus will stop reproducing without affecting the host cell."

　　The research team led by Dräger has been conducting research on the new coronavirus since January 2020. He is also a young professor at the University of Tübingen, responsible for computer-based systems biology research, focusing on optimizing biotechnology processes and molecular levels. The development and progression of the disease.

They successfully developed an integrated computer model with the new coronavirus and human alveolar macrophages.

Macrophages are mainly responsible for defending against foreign bodies in the alveoli, Dräger said: "(Previously) there is a complex computer model for these macrophages, and we have further developed it in order to study the new coronavirus."

　　The starting point of the model is that the virus has penetrated into the host (ie, the human alveolar macrophages in the model) and has been reprogrammed.

If the virus wants to produce new viral particles and spread, then it must use materials from the host and force the host cell to produce new viral components.

Dräger said: "The biochemical reactions used by the virus in the host have been integrated into the model. We first analyze the components of the virus, then calculate the materials needed to produce the virus particles, and look at the biochemical reactions in the host cells during the virus infection. Changes."

　　In the so-called flow balance analysis, the scientists systematically tested which biochemical reactions occur differently in infected cells and uninfected cells.

Through these reactions, they can start further experiments.

By specifically shutting down selected responses, they tracked processes that are particularly important to the virus.

For example, when guanylate kinase 1 is turned off, virus reproduction can be completely prevented.

In alveolar macrophages, this enzyme plays an important role in the metabolism of ribonucleic acid (RNA) components, so it also plays a decisive role in the composition of the new coronavirus RNA.

　　Dräger explained: "Without the GK1 virus, it cannot replicate, but human cells can switch to other biochemical and metabolic pathways." If you want to use active ingredients to inhibit enzymes without causing adverse side effects to the human body, this is an important prerequisite.

Currently, the Dräger team is working with Dr. Berhard Eilinger of the Fraunhofer Institute of Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology to test the effectiveness of inhibitors against the new coronavirus.

Some enzyme inhibitors are known. Fraunhofer Research in Hamburg has a complete library containing more than 5600 active substances. The most important thing is that all these substances have been approved for safe use in humans.

　　Even so, after scientists find suitable active ingredients in the laboratory, they must conduct rigorous tests.

First in animals, then in humans.

Because only in this way, people can fully grasp the interaction between the active ingredients and the immune system.

Experts predict that if all goes well, this drug against the new coronavirus may be approved as early as the end of 2021 after clinical trials.

Ehringer explained: "Maybe we can't fight this virus 100%, but only prevent 90% or 85% of the virus from reproducing. But as long as we buy enough time for the immune system, the result will be obvious. In addition, it is worth looking forward to. In addition, this basic method for the virus can be applied to all mutations of the new coronavirus."