Thread by @nanogenomic

SARS-BLOCK peptides docking with the ACE2 receptor

Using the original SARS-CoV-1 structure and the new sequence of SARS-CoV-2, we were able to design and simulate efficacious peptide inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 binding to the ACE2 receptor in 5 hours in February of 2020. These peptides effectively block the virus that causes COVID.

These sorts of approaches can be applied to far more than infectious disease. @Ligandal has developed a broad approach for simulating and designing synthetic peptides that can bind to virtually any class of surface markers, with many applications.

Much of our work has focused on packaging and delivering genetic materials and proteins, such as CRISPR, DNA, and mRNA. Coupling these predictive peptides to our delivery systems, we can unlock cell-specific genetic medicine for vast applications.

Stay tuned for more updates! :)

Here are some nanoparticles made entirely out of peptides, carrying mRNA, and designed to target specific cell types using similar approaches to the molecular modeling shown in the original post.

In the future, we will be able to direct genetic medicines to precise tissues and cells in the body, creating new paradigms for the treatment of many diseases. This is the vision that @Ligandal was formed on!