the Proposed method will allow to create drugs for antiviral therapy.
Scientists St. Petersburg state electrotechnical University “LETI” develop an innovative system the Express-diagnostics and treatment COVID-19 with peptides space-complementary (matching like a lock and key) the coronavirus spike. The thing is that when infected by SARS-CoV-2 adsorbed on the surface of cells by means of thorns via receptor ACE-2, which is present in the cells of the lungs and other organs and is the gateway to coronavirus. Then the pathogen enters the cell and triggers the process of formation of copies of itself through the introduction of its own RNA in the genetic apparatus of cells. As a result, the cell turns into a little “factory” to assemble the new virions of coronavirus.
Experts LETI came to the conclusion to inactivate the pathogen and for proximate analysis in his presence of the necessary molecules oligopeptides (compounds that represent short chains of amino acids is very small in size. — “Izvestia”), which have a spatial structure that is complementary to the spikes of coronavirus as well as ACE-2.
use a University computer program Protein 3D-scientists have modeled two suitable amino acid sequence.
One of them contains only eight amino acid residues. It can be used in the form of a solution in a diagnostic biochip, — explained Tatiana Zimin. Second up to 15 amino acid residues, allowing for even greater strength of binding of the sequence with the spike of the virus. Thus, the second peptide is almost completely bind all of the groups involved in the interaction of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 ASE-2.
Now scientists are testing both the sequence and develop a prototype platform of the biochip. In the case of a successful test, test system will be fastest in Russia — identify the coronavirus, it will be able in just ten minutes. High speed of analysis is achieved through the use of technology of microelectronics, which allow to minimize all the manual operations (preparation of the drug, mixing of reagents), and the process of finding the virus the chip is fast and automated. In addition, such systems are mobile and do not require special facilities.
Experiments using this peptide biochips unknown to us, — has noted in conversation with “Izvestia” Tatiana Zimin. — Our methodology is as follows. Because the virus is in the epithelium is required for the analysis sputum or a swab from the throat or nose. On a chip of glass or polymer size with the slide there is an input reservoir with a solution where POM��made the sample for analysis. The chip is inserted in the reader, where the solution passes by the sites with the peptides.
Scientists emphasize that the designed peptides can be used in antiviral therapy. If you bring them to the virus, they “capture” his thorns and inactivate the pathogen. As a result, he does not accede to the skin cells. Such molecules can include agents for external application. They can be used in the form of an aerosol, powder or ointment for nose in therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
Peptide interaction is a promising technology, have informed “news” the Director of the Institute of medical Parasitology, tropical and vector-borne diseases to them. E. I. martynovskogo sechenovskiy University (University-participant of the project “5-100”) Alexander Lukashev.
— the Use of analogues of the receptor of the person to ensure the detection even mutant forms of the virus (which is not guaranteed when using antibodies), since the interaction with the receptor determines the pathogenesis of the disease. Of course, the development of therapy COVID-19 using this method — the question of longer-term, since there is still a significant amount of testing, — said the scientist.
the Described method in theory looks interesting, and the possibility of using the spatial features of the virus SARS-CoV-2 there are a number of scientific articles in journals with a world name, has informed “news” a Deputy head of the laboratory of analysis of indicators of population health and the digitization of health MIPT Stanislav Otstavnov.
— However, raises the legitimate question of why the principles known until the pandemic COVID-19, has not led to a revolution in the treatment of other viral infections such as human immunodeficiency virus, —said the expert.
Scientists from LETI a long way to go from hypothesis testing, to implementation in clinical practice of efficient technologies. The experts say that on the whole the test cycle until the CPS certification will take eight to ten months. Work on the fastest test system and a cure for coronavirus experts LETI conduct together with the research Institute of influenza of Ministry of healthcare of the Russian Federation, research Institute of highly pure biopreparations, St. Petersburg Institute of epidemiology and Microbiology named after Pasteur.
Recently, the chief pulmonologist of Ministry of health of the Russian Federation Sergey Avdeev stated that many misunderstand the essence of the easing of restrictions due pandemic coronavirus in the country. In conversation with journalists he noted that today it is possible to observe a clear reduction in new cases of coronavirus: “It’s certainly a big step in the direction of reducing the size of the pandemic. The scale Straus while nothing significant happens: we can say that today we have achieved certain successes in the fight against coronavirus infection, and this is due to the removal of restrictions”, — he said in an interview with TASS.
— Here the most important — those events, which is so much the doctors say, the CPS and the media. We must keep social distance, wear masks, and indoor and gloves. All this will reduce the risks of a negative scenario, — said Avdeev.
Previously the who representatives announced the withdrawal of Russia on a plateau on the coronavirus. Local experts say it’s natural and the number of infected will decrease.
— Theory of epidemiology teaches that after the peak incidence to be achieved the plateau stage, then the number of new cases will gradually begin to decline, — told “Izvestia” a senior researcher of the Institute of X-VIO TSU Maria Orlova.
as of 14 June 528 964 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 280 050 recovered, 6948 died from the new infection. The total number of people infected with coronavirus in the world by the morning of 14 June exceeded 7,76 million people. The pandemic has covered 188 countries. This is evidenced by data project at Johns Hopkins University, published on the website.
