[D2OL] adds NEW SARS Target !!

[crouse]

There was even an article on SlashDot about this.

http://science.slashdot.org/article....116224&tid=191


With the `slashdotting` in full effect at D2OL's website I thought I should repost the info here.

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Scientists at CDC and other laboratories have detected a previously unrecognized coronavirus in patients with SARS. While the new coronavirus is still the leading hypothesis for the cause of SARS, other viruses are still under investigation as potential causes.

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that have a halo or crown-like (corona) appearance when viewed under a microscope. These viruses are a common cause of mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness in humans and are associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and neurologic disease in animals. Coronaviruses can survive in the environment for as long as three hours.

SARS is a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe. The illness usually begins with a fever (measured temperature greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]). The fever is sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache, general feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset.

After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry, nonproductive cough that might be accompanied by or progress to the point where insufficient oxygen is getting to the blood. In 10% to 20% of cases, patients will require mechanical ventilation.

The principal way SARS appears to be spread is through droplet transmission; namely, when someone sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets into the air and someone else breathes them in. It is possible that SARS can be transmitted more broadly through the air or from objects that have become contaminated.

TARGET - SARS Target 1

The new virus diverges by 50-60% from the three known groups of coronavirus. Because of the variation between coronovirus, scientists working with D2OL have selected a coronavirus protein target that has high conservation between human and animal strains. Three dimensional structure is actually more resistant to change than primary "sequence", and hence "SARS Target 1" is expected to have the same functionality and active site across all strains, and potentially allow for selection of compounds with broad activity against all coronovirus strains.

Several treatment regimens have been used for patients with SARS, but there is insufficient information at this time to determine if they have had a beneficial effect.

D2OL's target is also believed to be critical in the life cycle of the Coronovirus and drugs selected against it our expected to be viralcydal.

With your help we are testing compounds that are readily available, and credible "hits" can be tested in cell and animal models of the disease to confirm potential utility in man.
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I know D2OL has some issues with the servers going down on the weekends and some other issues...... but I've always thought that they had a great idea. So I've stuck with them. Seems like EVERY type of DC project has it's up's and downs, but I still think it's worth doing.

Anyway........just thought I'd post the article and link to slashdot on the subject of SAR's Targets.

[TOAD6147]

Sounds like a worthy cuase but it seems the server is down. Anybody have info on this situation?

[Creatures]

w00t good that i run the client right now (i'm sure it's doing nothing

Creatures

[crouse]

Originally posted by Creatures
w00t good that i run the client right now (i'm sure it's doing nothing

Creatures

?????

[Creatures]

well it's good that i'm working for a new kind of illness! but the client never works right! it has got some bugs!

it meant to be a joke

Creatures

[crouse]

all of mine seem to be working fine ??

[Creatures]

strange maybe a reboot would be good!

Creatures

[TOAD6147]

How come this seems to be the only thread in the Distributed forum dealing with D2OL?

[Creatures]

there are others (olders) but we aren't such a big team so we keep this small

Creatures

[mickwish]

Hmmmm....
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Seems more than one DC is picking up SARS. Hoepfully that will speed up research and development to vaccine / treatments.

Everybody crunch SARS on their fav DC!

Cheers
Mick

[viztech]

Thanks for the info Crouse!

viz

[TOAD6147]

Look out Surreal! Passing on the right!