Sign In
Learn bits
Science & Tech.
Mahesh

15/07/22 13:44 PM IST

Scientists develop novel mechanism to inactivate SARS-CoV-2

In News 
  • Researchers have reported the design of a new class of synthetic peptides that can not only block the entry of SARS-CoV-2 virus entry into cells but also clump the virions (virus particles) together, reducing their ability to infect.
About the Discovery
  • It is known that protein-protein interaction is often like that of a lock and a key.
  • This interaction can be hampered by synthetic peptide that mimics, competes with, and prevents the ‘key’ from binding to the ‘lock’, or vice versa.
  • Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with researchers from the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, have exploited this approach to design peptides that can bind to and block the spike protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
  • This binding was further characterised extensively by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and other biophysical methods.
  • The research was supported under the COVID-19 IRPHA call of SERB Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body of Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Source- PIB 

More Related Current Affairs View All

20 Nov

ISRO’s GSAT-N2 communication satellite

'Elon Musk-owned Space X successfully launched the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s communication satellite GSAT-N2 from Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.'

Read More

20 Nov

Artificial rain in New Delhi

'As the national capital’s air quality continued to be in the ‘severe plus’ category for the third consecutive day, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai wrote to

Read More

20 Nov

Chancay port project in Peru

'Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated Peru’s Chancay Port  describing it as the starting point for a “new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America&rdq

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps