RESEARCH: COVID-19
FOLDING PROJECT #13444 PROFILE

Scientists are using computer simulations to find new drugs against the COVID-19 virus. The top-scoring drug candidates will be made in a lab and tested. This project is open science, meaning anyone can see their progress and even help fund it. Learn more at covid.postera.ai

Note: This TLDR is a simplication and may not be 100% accurate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnyaAmM1nhEThese projects are rapid sprints of relative alchemical free energy calculations for prioritizing compound designs from chemists from the COVID Moonshot for synthesis.

Top-scoring molecules will be made and tested in a laboratory by the COVID Moonshot as it works to develop an open science patent-free inexpensive therapy for COVID-19 that shuts down the essential SARS-CoV-2 main viral protease.

The COVID Moonshot has already made and tested hundreds of compounds, and is pursuing several good lead series.

You can see their progress in real time here:
https://covid.postera.ai/covid/submissions/compounds To learn more about what the Moonshot is and how it came about, you can read our blog post or watch this video. In addition to helping us prioritize compounds, you can help us purchase more compounds for synthesis at cost from Enamine by sponsoring our GoFundMe page for patent-free open science COVID-19 drug discovery! This is a radical new approach to drug discovery that aims to rapidly produce inexpensive new therapies. SARS-CoV-2 main viral potease (Mpro) with ligand bound, from the RCSB.

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COVID Moonshot

An initiative to rapidly develop open-source, inexpensive COVID-19 therapies.

The COVID Moonshot is a global collaboration focused on accelerating the development of effective and affordable treatments for COVID-19. It leverages open science principles and crowd-sourced research to identify promising drug candidates and make them freely accessible to researchers and healthcare providers worldwide.

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SARS-CoV-2

The virus responsible for the disease COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious coronavirus that causes the respiratory illness known as COVID-19. It spreads primarily through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell.

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Viral Protease

An enzyme produced by viruses that plays a crucial role in their replication.

Viral proteases are enzymes essential for the replication of many viruses. They cleave viral proteins into smaller units, allowing them to assemble and spread. Inhibiting these proteases can effectively block viral replication, making them important targets for antiviral drugs.

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Mpro

Main viral protease

Mpro stands for Main Viral Protease. It's a critical enzyme produced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that plays a vital role in its replication process.

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Open Science

A movement promoting transparency and collaboration in scientific research.

Open Science advocates for making research data, methods, and results freely accessible to all. This promotes transparency, collaboration, and faster progress in scientific discovery.

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Enamine

A chemical supplier that provides a wide range of compounds for research purposes.

Enamine is a company that specializes in providing researchers with access to a vast library of chemical compounds. They offer a diverse catalog of building blocks and intermediates essential for drug discovery and other scientific applications.

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GoFundMe

A website that allows individuals to raise funds for various causes.

GoFundMe is an online platform where people can create fundraising campaigns to support personal projects, emergencies, or charitable endeavors. It connects individuals with potential donors who contribute to their goals.