RESEARCH: COVID-19
FOLDING PROJECT #13460 PROFILE

The project relates to finding new drugs for COVID-19 using computer simulations and experiments. Scientists are using AI to design molecules that block a key protein in the virus. Top candidates will be made and tested in labs. You can track their progress online and even help fund this open science effort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnyaAmM1nhE These 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.

compound

A substance with a defined chemical structure.

In drug discovery, a compound refers to a molecule being investigated for its potential medicinal effects. Chemists synthesize compounds and test them to see if they interact with specific biological targets, such as proteins or enzymes, in ways that could treat diseases.

SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for causing COVID-19. It's a type of coronavirus that spreads through respiratory droplets and can lead to severe respiratory illness.

protease

An enzyme that breaks down proteins.

Proteases are biological catalysts that play crucial roles in various cellular processes, including protein digestion, cell signaling, and immune response. They work by breaking down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids.

COVID Moonshot

A global initiative to rapidly develop and deploy effective treatments for COVID-19.

The COVID Moonshot is a collaborative effort involving researchers, scientists, and organizations worldwide to accelerate the discovery and development of new therapies for COVID-19. Its goal is to make safe and effective treatments widely accessible as quickly as possible.

GoFundMe

A website for online fundraising.

GoFundMe is a popular crowdfunding platform that allows individuals and organizations to raise money for various causes. People can create campaigns to seek donations for personal projects, medical expenses, charitable initiatives, or other purposes.