The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer: Using an Interactive Application to Improve the Public Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer: Using an Interactive Application to Improve the Public Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
复制标题
SARS-CoV-2 刺突蛋白突变探索者：使用交互式应用程序提高公众对所关注的 SARS-CoV-2 变体的了解
DOI：
10.1101/2022.09.09.507349
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发表时间：
2022
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Iannucci S
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Iannucci S
由于COVID-19大流行，导致这种情况的病毒SARS-CoV-2引起了非专家观众的浓厚兴趣。病毒刺突蛋白作为保护性免疫应答的主要靶点，包括疫苗引起的免疫应答，引起了公众的特别兴趣。SARS-CoV-2的快速进化导致了峰值的变化，增强了传播性或削弱了疫苗保护。这产生了新的关注变体（VOC）。使用通过COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium（COG-UK/ME）的在线Mutation Explorer等门户网站共享的病毒序列数据研究了VOC的出现。这是为专家读者设计的，但如果适当传播，其中所载的信息可能会引起普遍兴趣。可视化，交互性和动画可以提高分子生物学主题的参与和理解，因此我们开发了一个图形教育资源，SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer（SSPME），它使用交互式3D分子模型和动画来解释支持VOC的分子生物学。用户测试表明，与COG-UK/ME相比，SSPME具有更好的可用性，提高了参与者的知识信心和知识获取。这表明交互式可视化如何用于有效的分子生物学交流，以及提高公众对SARS-CoV-2 VOCs的理解。
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the virus responsible, SARS-CoV-2, became a source of intense interest for non-expert audiences. The viral spike protein gained particular public interest as the main target for protective immune responses, including those elicited by vaccines. The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in variations in the spike that enhanced transmissibility or weakened vaccine protection. This created new variants of concern (VOCs). The emergence of VOCs was studied using viral sequence data which was shared through portals such as the online Mutation Explorer of the COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium (COG-UK/ME). This was designed for an expert audience, but the information it contained could be of general interest if suitably communicated. Visualisations, interactivity and animation can improve engagement and understanding of molecular biology topics, and so we developed a graphical educational resource, the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer (SSPME), which used interactive 3D molecular models and animations to explain the molecular biology underpinning VOCs. User testing showed that the SSPME had better usability and improved participant knowledge confidence and knowledge acquisition compared to COG-UK/ME. This demonstrates how interactive visualisations can be used for effective molecular biology communication, as well as improving the public understanding of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.