Several sectors are working to find a solution to the Coronavirus epidemic. We can notably cite the case of an artificial intelligence capable of detecting the virus in 20 seconds or the project of an informative application in France. Obviously, the scientific and medical research sector occupies the first place and in some cases, researchers use surprising methods.
Indeed, American researchers are using a video game to try to better understand how the Covid-19 virus works. Released in 2008, Foldit was developed by the University of Washigthon to allow people outside the academic or scientific framework to help science. A platform to which a new level dedicated to coronavirus has been added.
Today we're calling on YOU to help design antiviral proteins against #coronavirus: https: //t.co/ecqJmpXaj8
The most promising solutions will be manufactured & tested at the Institute for Protein Design (@UWproteindesign) in Seattle. #CitizenScience #COVID # COVID2019 #citsci pic.twitter.com/TsknpmwCyN
The object of the game is to "fold proteins", to solve the protein puzzle, in order to understand its structure. An essential step according to researchers at the University of Washington who use Foldit, because it actually helps to "understand how [a protein] works and to target it with drugs".
A very serious game
The Foldit site details the objective of the players' mission: "In recent weeks, researchers have determined the structure of the advanced protein of coronavirus 2019 and how it binds to human receptors. If we can design a protein that binds to this cutting edge protein from the coronavirus, it could be used to block interaction with human cells and stop infection! ". Concretely, it is therefore a question of making an antiviral protein before the proteins of the coronavirus can interact with human cells.
According to the creators of the game, the human mind proves to be more efficient than computer calculations in "folding" proteins, notably thanks to its intuition.
At present, it is unclear whether the game will advance the understanding of the virus, but with more than 200,000 players, there are chances that certain puzzle resolutions will advance research. The University of Washington has indicated that the most interesting ideas will be studied and tested.
Did you see ?
Coronavirus: A video game proposing to spread a virus is a hit in China in the midst of an epidemic
Society
Coronavirus: Thirty specialized researchers gathered around Emmanuel Macron on Thursday
- coronavirus
- Health
- epidemic
- Video games
- Research
- High-Tech
- Medicine