1/ In the first 2 threads we looked at the viral genome and the protein capsid. There are 2 other major structural components of the virus with the binding proteins and a membrane.
2/ All viruses come with proteins that project from their surface. These are ligands that bind to specific receptors on cells to gain entry. These proteins give the virus its tropism.
3/ The concept of tropism means a virus will only be able to infect cells of tissues that display the receptor for the proteins it has on its surface. Each virus will have different proteins on its surface which will make it able to infect specific tissues.
4/ The influenza virus has a protein called Hemagglutinin which binds to the Sialic Acid receptor in the upper and lower respiratory tract. This gives influenza tropism for the respiratory tract.
5/ The HIV virus has a protein called the glycoprotein that binds to CD4 on helper T cells and Dendritic cells to make entry. It also uses a co-receptor of the T cell with CCR5 or CXCR5 to bind. This gives HIV tropism for Helper T cells.
4/ The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has 3 proteins on its surface with an L, M and S protein. The HBV virus will make binding to the heparin sulfate receptor with one protein then use others to make binding to the NTCP and EFGR receptors.
5/ This gives Hepatitis B tropism to the liver.
6/ For a cell to become infected with a virus, it must be susceptible and permissible for infection. Susceptible means that cell has the receptor for that virus to make entry. Permissible means that cell is capable of allowing the virus to replicate inside.
7/ Susceptible is the idea of tropism, but permissible is a factor of the cell itself. Not every cell will be able to allow viral replication. This can often be related to cellular host defenses like Interferons and the Antiviral state.
8/ The last part of the virus is the membrane. Not every virus will have a membrane. When the virus only has a protein shell, we call it a capsid. When the virus has a membrane, we call it a nucleocapsid. We call a virus with a membrane and enveloped virus.
9/ When a virus has no membrane the protein structure is very strong. This makes these viruses very hardy. They can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. They can also survive the low Ph of the stomach.
10/ All enteroviruses are this kind of structure. They make up one of the many families that cause Gastroenteritis. Another is the Norovirus which is commonly called the Cruise ship virus. This baby is even resistant to hand sanitizers. Always wash your hands before eating.
11/ The membrane gives viruses benefits. It makes them slippery so they are harder to target by host immunity. They have lipid membranes which helps them blend in with the cells of the host.
12/ The membrane makes them less hardy outside the body. They don't live as long before they dry out. They also don't survive the Ph of the stomach. The Corona virus is an example of an enveloped virus.
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Here I am going to look at the platform for @RecursionPharma and attempt to value this company as a sum of the parts.
1/ The Recursion platform comes in the technology pieces. They are the Data Collection, Mapping and Machine Learning. I will look at each of these parts.
2/ The first part of the platform is Data Collection. This is their automated lab where they run 2 million experiments per week and record that experimental data into their super computer Biohive.
This is going to be for companies not inside the $XBI. I will post companies here as I come across biotech names and check them out.
$ABSI is a company using synthetic biology to create antibodies and AI to model and design antibodies. They are working on generative AI platform to allow for antibody development. Its a massive bubble at 2x valuation. I love it at the right price.
$EXAI is a company that I own that is working on AI across all stages of drug discovery. They have 2 platforms with single cell biology genomics and AI drug discovery.
This is going to be part 4 as I ran into the thread limit for the number of companies each thread will show. Make sure to go back and check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
$FATE is a iPSC cell company working on CAR-NK and CAR-T therapies. I have owned them for many years, but opted to sell them recently as they have failed over and over again in the last several years. Time to move on.
$SANA is one of my top picks working in the cell therapies space. They have an allogeneic CAR-T program which is promising. They also have a regenerative medicine platform starting with islet cells for diabetes.
This is going to be part 3 as I ran into the thread limit for the number of companies each thread will show. Make sure to go back and check out Part 1 and Part 2.
$RXRX is actually my top pick right now. They are using robotics to do experiments and collect data to feed into their super computer and use AI to develop drugs. This is the future of drug discovery. It should, over time, reduce costs and improve rates of success.
$VIR is another company working in infectious disease, but not necessarily vaccine. They are focused on things like HIV and Hepatitis. If it were not such a competitive space, I would probably add it to the list. The company trades at $1.2 bil with $1.6 bil cash.
$FOLD is an old ERT company working in rare diseases which changed into gene therapies. I use to own them for a while so I know they have had some success and some failure along the way. Its a solid company, but I am moving beyond gene therapy to gene editing now.
$RVMD is working on the mTOR and MAPK pathways for oncology. They have a very impressive pipeline of drugs. Their science is strong and the balance sheet has $1.8 bil cash. I had owned them for years, and I regret selling. They go back on my list to advance to doing more DD.