{"id":3564,"date":"2020-03-06T13:14:27","date_gmt":"2020-03-06T12:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.codemotion.com\/magazine\/?p=3564"},"modified":"2023-05-30T15:49:54","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T13:49:54","slug":"coronavirus-a-puzzle-game-to-help-in-finding-a-cure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.codemotion.com\/magazine\/dev-life\/stories\/coronavirus-a-puzzle-game-to-help-in-finding-a-cure\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus: a puzzle game to help in finding a cure"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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  1. Coronavirus: a bit of information<\/a>
  2. How to play with FoldIt<\/a>
  3. Final considerations<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n

    We are all aware of the new coronavirus COVID-19, and how it is spreading rapidly everywhere in the world. The World Health Organization and all the national health systems are working on finding a solution to this global problem. What we can do, as geeks, nerds and developers, to help experts in containing the spreading of this virus?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this article we explore an interesting application named FoldIt<\/a>, developed and maintained by a team of researchers in the field of protein design and bioinformatics<\/strong>. This application consists of a puzzle game in which users have to fold proteins in order to achieve specific goals. Recently, a new puzzle has been added to FoldIt<\/strong>, specifically designed to help with finding a new protein that can bind to one of COVID-19’s spike proteins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Coronavirus: a bit of information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    To use the FoldIt puzzle properly, you first need to know something more about the novel coronavirus. Let’s start with its structure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Coronaviruses display a \u2018spike\u2019 protein on their surface, which binds tightly to a receptor protein found on the surface of human cells. Once the coronavirus spike binds to the human receptor, the virus can infect the human cell and replicate\u2026<\/p>\nSource: FoldIt, description of the “Coronavirus Spike Protein Binder Design” puzzle<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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    Structure of a coronavirus<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    In order to find a positive protein that can attach to this spike protein, experts need to conduct a non-trivial design process that often requires a lot of time. This issue was the main inspiration behind FoldIt: researchers hope to leverage gamers\u2019 tireless compulsion to solve problems<\/strong> to help scientific innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the other hand, the question may arise: can the scientific community afford to rely solely on gamers to find a protein to attack such viruses? The answers, of course, is ‘no’. Indeed, several proteins have been already discovered<\/a> that are able to attach to the new COVID-19, and trials have already started. However, new proteins being designed may result in the easier implementation of a cure<\/strong>, and that’s why our help, although very limited, may end up providing something really useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The more we know about how certain proteins fold, the better we can design new proteins to combat disease-related proteins and cure the diseases. <\/p>\nSource: Foldit FAQ page<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    How to play with FoldIt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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