Scientists at Washington State University have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the herpes virus, pinpointing a particular amino acid that plays a vital role in the virus's ability to infiltrate human cells. Utilizing an AI model, the team scrutinized numerous internal interactions within the gB protein, which is responsible for facilitating viral entry into cells. The algorithm identified a crucial bond between two amino acids, glutamine and arginine, essential for maintaining the protein's stability and its capacity to attach to cell membranes. To test their findings, the researchers substituted glutamine in the protein with proline. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that this single alteration completely obstructed the virus's entry mechanism, preventing it from infecting the cells. "This was just one interaction out of thousands. Without the simulation, we might have spent years finding this through trial and error," remarked Jin Liu, a co-author of the study. This mechanism has the potential to lead to a new class of antiviral treatments. Since gB is the most stable and conserved element across the herpesvirus family, this discovery could offer a universal solution not only for HSV-1 and HSV-2 but also for chickenpox, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus.
Informational material. 18+.
