A unique research platform for the design of tiny antibodies that can stop the process of infection with the corona virus
Prof. Sheral Fleischman and his research partners in the Department of Biomolecular Sciences at the Weizmann Institute of Science use a unique research platform they developed, which combines computational design of molecules and laboratory experiments - with the aim of designing tiny antibodies that can slip through the strong defense system of the corona virus. The process involves designing millions of "nanoantibodies" - small synthetic molecules - and Prof. Fleishman intends to focus on the most promising molecules as possible candidates for new drugs for the disease caused by the virus - COVID-19.
Prof. Fleishman develops computational models for the rapid design of "customized" proteins. His innovative methods are at the service of the research community worldwide through public web servers and have already been adopted by hundreds of laboratories worldwide. The algorithms at the heart of the planning tool are based on understanding the ways of folding in space, the binding and the mutual effects of proteins.
A significant part of his work focuses on antibodies - the proteins that protect the body against disease-causing invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. His research has already led to the design of a potential vaccine against malaria, and he is now focusing his efforts on the corona virus. For this purpose, the research will focus on a certain structural component of the corona virus - the "spikes protein" that plays a key role in the infection process. Prof. Fleishman aims to design nanoantibodies that will bind to vulnerable points in this viral spike protein, thus stopping the infection process.
The research group will use cloud computing that allows access to dictionary hours of computing, and then conduct experiments to find out which of the millions of designed antibodies bind the spike protein tightly.
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