Decoding coronavirus structure could lead to new antiviral drugs

A new discovery by researchers right here in San Antonio is giving doctors a better idea about how the coronavirus works.

“I’m still not 100 percent,” said Rudy Palacios, a man who battled COVID-19 in a hospital for 16 days. “I actually was released from the hospital on July 2.”

Palacios is feeling better these days, but recovering from the disease can be just as much of a struggle as fighting it off.

"Even to this day I have trouble breathing,” said Palacios. “I still have a lot of pain in my chest.”

Local researchers say a new discovery could lay the groundwork to help people like Palacios recover quicker.

"Since this virus is so challenging so far we have learned that the biology of this virus is very complex<<>” said Dr. Yogesh Gupta, a researcher at UT Health San Antonio.

Gupta and his team is studying 3D models of certain parts of the coronavirus and looking into their inner workings.

"Now the virus can actually hide inside the cell and can evade the immune system,” said Gupta. “When it goes inside we want to decode that process."

Gupta says the virus has an enzyme that can change when it gets inside a cell. It can copy the cell's own code, basically acting like camouflage.

“If we can abolish and block this activity we can in principle have our immune system activated in a way that it can recognize the virus,” said Gupta.

Gupta says over time the coronavirus could change, but this discovery could also help develop treatment for any future versions of the virus.

"We can be better prepared by understanding the 3-Dimensional structures the mechanisms of the virus,” said Gupta.

Gupta says his lab is now looking into how all of the parts and molecules of the virus interact with each other.