Aptamer Graphics (IMAGE)
Caption
The Spike protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 virus (marked in red) recognises the hACE2 protein (marked in blue) that protrudes from healthy human cells in the throat and lungs. In this way, the Spike protein acts like a key that allows the virus to invade the cell and use its machinery to reproduce itself. The newly developed RNA aptamer (marked in yellow) binds the Spike protein very strongly and blocks it ability to recognise ACE2, thereby preventing further infection.
Credit
Julián Valero, Aarhus University
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Original content