MHC 3 (IMAGE)

Rice University

MHC 3

Caption

Electrostatic potential maps created from models by Rice University show a major histocompatibility protein bound to a peptide drawn from SARS-CoV viruses. Such dynamic complexes can trigger the activation of T cells that are part of the immune system. The Rice team discovered the stabilizing influence of an alternative binding residue (at position 4) common to both the peptide they studied, at top, and one associated with SARS-CoV-2, at bottom, responsible for COVID-19 disease.

Credit

Kavraki Lab/Rice University

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