From the University of Washington they use the Foldit game to fold proteins and thus understand their three-dimensional structure.
Wuhan's coronavirus is already a global health alarm that is irretrievably interfering with the personal and professional daily life of the entire planet. While preventive measures are being taken and how to placate this virus, from the University of Washington, Seattle, they are using a small videogame to combat COVID-19.
As if it were a three-dimensional protein structure simulator
The members of this school do not go bluffing and are not trying to draw media attention with this idea. The video game they are using is Foldit, a title released in 2008 where players can experience protein folds and thus know their three-dimensional structure, make mistakes and experiment with what is still a fictional game. They do not put real materials at risk.
"It is key to understand how a protein works and to be able to transfer it to medicines." In addition, a new puzzle based on COVID-19 (called Coronavirus Spike Protein Binder Design) has now been added, a disease that still does not have a vaccine to prevent its spread, which is a challenge for them whatever it is that You can make it clear through the use of this video game.
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
– Foldit (@Foldit) February 28, 2020
Foldit wants the game to be used to design proteins that prevent contagion
"Coronaviruses have‘ pointed ’proteins on their surface that squeeze tightly with the protein receptors on the surfaces of human cells," the puzzle added to Foldit is defined, as Eurogamer collects.
“In recent weeks, researchers have determined the structure of the protein tips in this 2019 coronavirus and how they bind to human receptors. If we can design a protein that manages to bind with the tips of this coronavirus, it could be used to block the interaction with human cells and stop the infection ”, they add, confident that the resources provided by this simulator can be very useful for planning experiments and approach that barrier that is now investigating world medicine.
Wuhan coronavirus map according to contagion volume until March 3 | Bloomberg
According to the creators, thousands of people play Foldit and believe that it can be a very useful tool to work and interact with 3D structures of proteins identical to the real ones, both now and in the future. In recent years it has already been a tool for scientists with these same purposes.
Wuhan's coronavirus is also affecting Spain. According to sources from El País, the epidemic has already infected a total of 160 people, spread throughout the Peninsula. The Ministry of Health ensures that a total of 56 people are already affected in the capital, a figure that is close to that of other countries such as Portugal, France and Italy, where more deaths are being recorded throughout Europe. The percentage of deaths remains, in any case, very low.
