Devyani Goswami, Amity University Kolkata
Since the identification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the spike protein of it has been a topic of great interest among researchers. These spike proteins are capable of infecting the host cells after their attachment to the ACE2 receptor binding domain. The new mutated strains have caused a huge amount of infection due to their strong attachment to the ACE2.
To terminate this rising infection scientists from the University of Bonn has successfully isolated a molecule, called aptamer; which is capable of managing the infection as well as constant mutation of the coronavirus. The aptamer is a single-stranded, short-chain of DNA molecule which is capable of binding to the molecules, which induces the activity of certain gene upon binding to the double-stranded DNA molecule.
One such isolated aptamer, SP6 can bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 and is also capable of terminating any kind of mutation as well as further infection. Although the research was conducted on pseudo-viruses, evidence on action upon real coronaviruses remains under the veil.
Whether this new approach can help to control this threatening virus remains under tenacious studies, which could take months to get complete.
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REFERENCE: 1) New Achilles Heel of Coronavirus? Aptamer Molecule Attacks Coronavirus in a Novel Way
2) A SARS‐CoV‐2 Spike Binding DNA Aptamer that Inhibits Pseudovirus Infection by an RBD‐Independent Mechanism
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202100316
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