Spike protein
No Comments
Subject: Science and tech
Context:
Researchers have found that the spike protein in coronavirus changes its form after it attaches itself to a human cell.
Findings:
Spike protein changes its form after it attaches itself to a human cell, folding in on itself and assuming a rigid hairpin shape
Concept:
- Spike protein protrudes from the surface of a coronavirus, like the spikes of a crown or corona — hence the name ‘coronavirus’.
- In the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, it is the spike protein that initiates the process of infection in a human cell.
- It attaches itself to a human enzyme, called the ACE2 receptor, before going on to enter the cell and make multiple copies of itself.
Uses:
- The researchers believe the findings have implications for vaccine development.
- Many vaccines that are currently in development use the spike protein to stimulate the immune system.
- But these may have varying mixes of the prefusion and postfusion forms and that may limit their protective efficacy.
- There is need for stabilising the spike protein in its prefusion structure in order to block the conformational changes that lead to the postfusion state. If the protein is not stable, antibodies may be induced but they will be less effective in terms of blocking the virus.