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A group of scientists believe they have discovered a way to combat Covid-19, something that has been described as a “game changer.”
The team at the University of Bristol say small molecule antiviral drugs could be created to stop the deadly virus infecting cells.
In a move that could eliminate the coronavirus before it gains access to human cells, the group believes they have found a “druggable pocket” within a Sars-CoV-2 spike protein.
Sars-CoV-2 is the name of the virus that causes Covid-19.
The spike proteins are found on the surface of the virus and are a key factor in infecting cells.
The scientists also discovered linoleic acid within a custom-made pocket in the spike protein.
LA, a free fatty acid, plays a key role in inflammation and immunity levels, but cannot be produced by the human body, reports RTE.
Professor Imre Berger said: “Our discovery provides the first direct link between the pathological manifestations of LA, Covid-19 and the virus itself.
“The question now is how to turn this new knowledge against the virus itself and defeat the pandemic.”
The researchers were baffled by the discovery, which was made using a 3D structure of the Sars CoV-2 spike protein.
Professor Berger added: “So here we have LA, a molecule that is at the center of those functions that go haywire in Covid-19 patients, with dire consequences.
“And the virus that is causing all this havoc, according to our data, grabs and latches on to exactly this molecule, basically disarming much of the body’s defenses.”
The team found hope in earlier research on rhinovirus, which causes the common cold.
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In that case, the group said, a similar pocket was tapped to develop powerful small molecules that were developed as antiviral drugs in human trials – something that was a success.
The team included experts from the Bristol UNCOVER Group, Bristol biotech Imophoron Ltd, the Max Planck Institute for Biomedical Research in Heidelberg, Germany, and Geneva Biotech Sàrl, Switzerland.
The findings were published in the journal Science.
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