Distinguished Biotechnology Research Professor AIIMS, New Delhi, INDIA
Friday 29 October 2021 | 3:30 PM – ICGEB New Delhi, INDIA
Structure-based design & discovery: Applications for protection against SARS-CoV-2
Host: D. Salunke
The birth centenary year (8 October, 2021 to 8 October, 2022) of Professor G. N. Ramachandran, an outstanding figure and a jewel in the Indian Science is an inspirational period for the scientific community. His discoveries of triple helical structure of collagen, Ramachandran plot and anomalous X-ray scattering ranked among the top contributions in the world. His work has influenced the entire field of Structural Biology which has become important for the rational discovery of therapeutics including those against COVID-19.
The viral agent, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), has affected millions. There is a need of an effective and cheap anti-viral therapy for slowing human infections and hence dampening the COVID-19 transmission. Lactoperoxidase (LPO), a mammalian heme peroxidase and a part of innate immune action is an antibacterial protein which is found in the extracellular fluids of humans. Based on the information from the structures of LPO and its complexes with substrate and inhibitors new substrates of LPO have been identified which are ready to be exploited for therapeutic applications against SARS-CoV-2.