RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – At unprecedented speed in the history of science, Chinese experts have already uncovered the processes by which the new coronavirus enters the human system.
The breakthrough, published in an extraordinary issue in Science magazine, is crucial for the development of drugs, vaccines and new diagnostic tests for the Covid-19.
According to the new study, the virus binds to a specific protein present in the cell membrane. By determining the protein that serves as the gateway to the disease, scientists provide an important target for the action of new drugs. The next step is to extend the study to determine the complete structure of this protein.
“Our findings not only shed light on the understanding of the mechanics of the viral infection, but will also ease the development of viral detection techniques and potential antiviral drugs,” the authors stated in an official note.
The study was conducted by researchers at the Institute for Advanced Studies of Hangzhou, Westlake University of Hangzhou and the University of Beijing. One of the positive features of the new epidemic is the speed with which the scientific community has been providing information about the newly discovered virus.