Navigation Links
Learning how SARS spikes its quarry

Researchers have determined the first detailed molecular images of a piece of the spike-shaped protein that the SARS virus uses to grab host cells and initiate the first stages of infection. The structure, which shows how the spike protein grasps its receptor, may help scientists learn new details about how the virus infects cells. The information could also be helpful in identifying potential weak points that can be exploited by novel antiviral drugs or vaccines.

The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus was responsible for a worldwide outbreak in 2002-2003 that affected more than 8,000 people and killed 774 before being brought under control. Public health experts worry about another outbreak of the virus, which originates in animals such as civet cats.

The research team, led by Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Stephen C. Harrison at Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and colleague Michael Farzan, also at Harvard Medical School, reported its findings in the September 16, 2005, issue of the journal Science. Lead author Fang Li in Harrison's laboratory and Wenhui Li in Farzan's laboratory, also collaborated on the study.

According to Harrison, prior to these studies, researchers knew that one of the key steps in SARS infection occurs when the virus's spike protein attaches to a receptor on the surface of target cells. Attachment of the spike protein permits the virus to fuse with a host cell and inject its RNA to infect the cell.

A detailed understanding of how the spike protein complexes with its receptor, ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2), could have important clinical implications. "The interest in understanding this complex has to do with the fact that this virus jumps from animals to humans, laterally among humans, and in some cases from animals to humans but without subsequent human-to-human transmission," said Harrison. "And we know that those modes of transmission depend o
'"/>

Source:Howard Hughes Medical Institute


Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Learning to fight an adversary that wont stay down
2. Bird Brains Show How Trial and Error May Contribute to Learning
3. Learning to love bacteria: Stanford scientist highlights bugs benefits
4. Learning and memory stimulated by gut hormone
5. Learning the language of DNA
6. Learning during sleep?
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Learning how SARS spikes its quarry

(Date:5/19/2013)... reports that white men and women of European descent ... and lesser toe deformities, including hammer or claw toe. ... the heritability of foot disorders in humansappear in ... Wiley on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology ... as 60% of older adults have foot disorders which ...
(Date:5/19/2013)... engineered a strain of electricity-producing bacteria that can grow ... carbon dioxide as its sole source of carbon. ... findings at the 113th General Meeting of the American ... of current production solely on hydrogen," says Amit Kumar, ... co-authors are part of the Lovley Lab Group at ...
(Date:5/19/2013)... University of California, Davis have engineered a strain of ... They report their findings today at the 113th ... "In this work, we used synthetic biology approaches to ... and light energy for growth) cyanobacterial metabolism for the ... the lead researcher on the study. He is ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Blame your parents for bunion woes 2
... General Hospital (MGH) researchers discovered that the spleen ... that could regenerate the insulin-producing islets of the,pancreas. ... of the,same team now report that these potential ... be present only during the embryonic,development of mammals.,The ...
... bat, yet their evolutionary history is largely unknown because of ... their origins and divergence. , Now, a research team including ... a paper in the Jan. 28 issue of the journal ... fill in many of the gaps. , Springer coauthors the ...
... Contrary to the results of a recent U.S. study, ... infection and a potentially life-threatening form of high blood ... The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. , ... detect human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as the ...
Cached Biology News:Spleen may be source of versatile stem cells 2Spleen may be source of versatile stem cells 3Molecular biology fills gaps in knowledge of bat evolution 2Association of herpesvirus with lung disorder questioned 2
(Date:5/16/2013)... 16, 2013  HealthSparq, a trusted provider of ... largest regional health plans, will debut a new ... (AHIP) Institute 2013 conference on June 13.  The ... how health insurance companies across the country are ... marketplace demands for increased healthcare transparency. ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... 2013 Scientists at the Center for Learning ... and the California -based biopharmaceutical company ... therapy for reversing memory decline in mice with Alzheimer,s ... cognitive improvement in advanced stage AD mice. The study ... cognitive decline for advanced stage AD mice, and is ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... 16, 2013 On average, developing a ... one billion dollars. Despite this investment, less than 10% ... high, is your clinical trial design optimally structured to ... outcomes? , Dr. Frederic Sax, Global Head of the ... use of data, information and technology in upfront clinical ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... , May 16, 2013 ... research report is available in its ... Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes ... http://www.reportlinker.com/p01182969/MediPoint-Diagnostic-Cardiac-Biomarkers-for-Acute-Coronary-Syndromes---APAC-Analysis-and-Market-Forecasts.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=In_Vitro_Diagnostic ... Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis ...
Breaking Biology Technology:HealthSparq to Reveal New Healthcare Transparency Benchmark Study at AHIP Institute 2013 2HealthSparq to Reveal New Healthcare Transparency Benchmark Study at AHIP Institute 2013 3Elevation of Brain Magnesium Reverses Memory Deficits in Alzheimer Mice 2Elevation of Brain Magnesium Reverses Memory Deficits in Alzheimer Mice 3Optimizing Clinical Trials Outcomes through Computer Assisted Design, New Life Science Webinar Hosted by Xtalks 2MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 2MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 3MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 4MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 5MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 6MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 7MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 8
... 28 Thermo Fisher,Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO ), the world ... conferences: -- Thomas Weisel Partners Healthcare Conference on Friday, Sept. ... the Four Seasons Hotel, Boston, Mass., -- Bear Stearns 20th ... 2007, at 10:30 a.m. (EST) at The Grand Hyatt Hotel, New ...
... With 3.8 Million Patients Under ... ... Accretive to Medco Shareholders in ... 2008, FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. and WAKEFIELD, Mass., Aug. 28 ,Medco Health Solutions, ...
... and Preclinical-Stage Compounds ... in Merck KGaA ... drug discovery and development company, announced today that,it will collaborate ... discover new applications for drug candidates. KineMed,s,proprietary pathway-based drug discovery ...
Cached Biology Technology:Thermo Fisher Scientific to Present at Investor Conferences 2Medco Announces Agreement to Acquire Diabetes Care Leader PolyMedica in Transaction Valued at $1.5 Billion 2Medco Announces Agreement to Acquire Diabetes Care Leader PolyMedica in Transaction Valued at $1.5 Billion 3Medco Announces Agreement to Acquire Diabetes Care Leader PolyMedica in Transaction Valued at $1.5 Billion 4Medco Announces Agreement to Acquire Diabetes Care Leader PolyMedica in Transaction Valued at $1.5 Billion 5Medco Announces Agreement to Acquire Diabetes Care Leader PolyMedica in Transaction Valued at $1.5 Billion 6Medco Announces Agreement to Acquire Diabetes Care Leader PolyMedica in Transaction Valued at $1.5 Billion 7KineMed to Collaborate With Merck KgaA to Validate New Applications for Drug Development Candidates 2
... SE flow cytometry system is the superior ... over 25 years, BD cell sorters have ... in leading university, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology research ... the research demands of today, we have ...
... allows real-time observations of cell cultures under ... 64 different strain parameters in addition to ... silicon strain chamber used by the ST-195 ... microscopy. ST-195 can be used with Nikon, ...
... RC DC protein assay reagents package is used ... reducing agents and detergents. The RC DC protein ... reagents sufficient for 500 standard assays: 250 ml ... 250 ml alkaline copper tartrate solution, 2 L ...
... Kit is designed for concentration and ... samples. Proteomics sample analysis is often ... impurities such as buffers, salts and ... interfere with electrophoretic separations or enzymatic ...
Biology Products: