🧬 AI Found an "Off Switch" for Herpes

Researchers at Washington State University have identified a specific amino acid critical for the herpes virus's ability to penetrate human cells.

The AI model LINES analyzed thousands of internal interactions within the gB protein, which mediates viral entry into the cell.

The algorithm found that a bond between two amino acids, glutamine and arginine, is critical for the protein's stability and its ability to latch onto the membrane. The researchers then replaced glutamine in the protein with proline.

Lab tests confirmed that this single-point mutation fully blocks the entry mechanism: the virus stays outside and cannot infect the cell.

"It was just a single interaction from thousands of interactions. If we don't do the simulation and instead did this work by trial and error, it could have taken years to find," says study co-author Jin Liu.

🦠 The mechanism could form the basis for a new class of antivirals. Because gB is the most stable and conserved component across the entire herpesvirus family, the discovery could become a universal key not only against HSV-1/2, but also against chickenpox, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus.

@hiaimediaen