Comment

Comment by rolph

this is the mechanism a coronavirus assembly exploits to enter a cell.

the virion uses a peplomer [one of its spikes] to dock with the cell at the ACE2 receptor then wrenches it apart like cutting a door right out of its frame, then the virus inserts itself into the cell leaving its envelope and protien accessories fused with the cell membrane.

-if this mechanism can be blocked it will inhibit viral entry

-if it can be mimmicked a vaccine is possible

here is a good place to start looking at background information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renin%E2%80%93angiotensin_syst...

This is what is so damaging to the infected cells to begin with. it disrupts an essential signalling system.

parent rolph 6 years ago

Discussion

Live from the official Hacker News API

A modern reader for Hacker News · SvelteKit + Skeleton