A new study has discovered a SARS-fighting molecule that can stop the virus from reproducing.
The virus reproduces by creating an enzyme called chymotrypsin-like cysteine proteinase or CCP, which stimulates the formation of the chemical building blocks needed to replicate itself.Inhibitors can stop CCP from working. However, no drug that works in this way has made it through to clinical trials.
The team imitated the shape of CCP on a computer and then searched in the molecular database to locate the molecule that can stop it from replicating.
They found that one molecule called CS11 prevented SARS from reproducing, reports New Scientist.
The team also found that CS11 has structure similar to Tamiflu drug, used for bird flu. and the authors believe the molecule may also be useful in preventing bird flu.
Source-ANI
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