Because of its small size, it is impossible to see the coronavirus with the naked eye, but it is possible to listen to it. Using computational algorithms, scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made the material manifestation of the SARS-CoV-2 protein audible. The over 1 hour 49 minutes long instrumental piece musically represents the amino acid sequence and the spike protein of the COVID-19 pathogen. What does the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus look like? After the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was revealed earlier this year, it was determined that it is made up of spherical particles that have proteins called spikes on them. These spikes make it easier for the virus to attach or bind itself to human cells, after which it undergoes a structural change to fuse with the membrane of the cell. Thereafter the genes of the virus enter the host cell and replicate. Why is it important to know the structure of the virus? These spikes on the virus surface is one of the reasons that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is so contagious and is easily spread from person to person. Research also points out that this virus binds itself to a particular receptor called the ACE2 receptor on the human cell surface. This ACE2 receptor might be responsible for severe COVID-19 among the elderly population since many elderly patients with co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension take ACEIs and ARBs, highly recommended medications for these diseases that are known to increase the number of ACE2 receptors. 📢 Express Explained is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@ieexplained) and stay updated with the latest According to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), some researchers are working on vaccines that target the spike protein of the virus. How does the musical representation of it help researchers? In an interview published on MIT website, Markus Buehler, the MIT professor and musician who develops AI models to design new proteins, said that sound is “an elegant way” to access the information stored in a protein. This is true for the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as well, whose structures are simply too small to be seen with the naked eye. Therefore, the scientists represented the spike protein’s amino acid sequence, its secondary structure patterns and its three-dimensional folds in the form of a musical composition. Representing the protein in this form can help researchers find out new sites on the proteins, where drugs or antibodies may be able to bind themselves and stop the virus from infecting humans. Further, musically representing the spike protein is helping the researchers to understand its vibrational structure, which can be critical for drug design. Don't miss from Explained | How some Pacific nations have held off COVID-19, but are still at risk In the interview, Buehler said the virus has an “uncanny” ability to deceive and “exploit” the host for its own multiplication. “As you listen, you may be surprised by the pleasant, even relaxing, tone of the music. But it tricks our ear in the same way the virus tricks our cells. It’s an invader disguised as a friendly visitor. Through music, we can see the SARS-CoV-2 spike from a new angle, and appreciate the urgent need to learn the language of proteins,” Buehler was quoted as saying. Here’s a quick Coronavirus guide from Express Explained to keep you updated: What can cause a COVID-19 patient to relapse after recovery? | COVID-19 lockdown has cleaned up the air, but this may not be good news. Here’s why | Can alternative medicine work against the coronavirus? | A five-minute test for COVID-19 has been readied, India may get it too | How India is building up defence during lockdown | Why only a fraction of those with coronavirus suffer acutely | How do healthcare workers protect themselves from getting infected? | What does it take to set up isolation wards?
