AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PANDEMIC
DISCOVERING TREATMENTS FOR COVID-19 Sriram Neelamegham, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and colleagues are developing molecular strategies to inhibit SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The spike protein of this virus has several carbohydrates, known as glycans, attached to it. The overarching goal of the research is to identify weaknesses in viral binding, entry and replication that can be exploited for therapeutic benefit. Their studies have revealed that glycan epitopes expressed on the virus may serve as novel druggable targets. They observed that modifying carbohydrate
From vaccine development to mental health apps, our researchers have stepped up to help.
epitopes using both genetic approaches and
by Jane Stoyle Welch
other viral infections.
small molecules may enable fine-tuning of viral entry into host cells. The small molecule inhibitors they are evaluating represent potential drugs that could be used to ameliorate COVID-19 as well as The paper, “Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry
Faculty, students and staff in the School of Engineering
upon blocking N- and O-glycan elaboration,”
and Applied Sciences are collaborating with colleagues
was published by eLife.
across the University, the region and the world, sharing their expertise to address critical issues related to the pandemic. Here we present some of our ongoing research initiatives and results, as well as a few examples of other ways that the engineering and applied sciences community has stepped up to help. A molecular model of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein binding to human ACE2.
MORE EFFECTIVE VACCINES Biomedical engineer Jonathan Lovell is the lead investigator of a research team that has discovered a technique to increase the effectiveness of vaccines against the novel coronavirus. Lovell’s team had previously developed a technology to convert small, purified proteins into particles through the use of liposomes, or small nanoparticles formed from naturally-occurring fatty components. In the new study, the researchers included a special lipid within the liposomes called cobalt-porphyrin-phospholipid, or CoPoP, which enables the receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein to rapidly bind to the liposomes, forming more nanoparticles that generate an immune response. When laboratory mice and rabbits were immunized with the RBD particles, high antibody levels were induced. Compared to other materials that are combined with the RBD to enhance the immune response, only the approach with particles containing CoPoP gave strong responses. Other vaccine adjuvant technology does not have the capacity to convert the RBD into particle-form. The vaccine is now entering clinical trials in South Korea in partnership with Eubiologics, a South Korean vaccine maker. The paper, “SARS-CoV-2 RBD Neutralizing Antibody Induction is Enhanced by Particulate Vaccination,” was published in Advanced Materials. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, and the Facility for Electron Microscopy Research at McGill University.
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BUFFALO ENGINEER 2021
