molecular clamp

 Work on a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 progresses with the most exciting developments coming from the attempts to create a genetic vaccine.  In this process a part of the DNA or RNA of the virus is introduced to the human cell, sparking a strong immune reaction without the disease.  The best part of the virus to take for this purpose is the protein spike which, before it fuses with the cell, produces a strong antibody response.  The difficulty has been that once you remove the spike protein from the virus it loses its shape and turns into its post-fusion state which is not going to activate the immune system. So a molecular clamp has been developed, a protein which fixes the spike protein in its pre-fusion state.  The University of Queensland is developing this process and has already achieved success with some forms of influenza, HIV, the measles virus and the Ebola virus. Now they are trying for the same success with SARS-CoV-2. The technology could also be successful in combating animal diseases like Hendra virus and canine distemper.