Using Molecular Visualisation Techniques to Explain the Molecular Biology of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutations to a General Audience.
Using Molecular Visualisation Techniques to Explain the Molecular Biology of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutations to a General Audience.
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DOI：
10.1007/978-3-031-10889-1_6
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发表时间：
2022-01-01
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Poyade, Matthieu
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Iannucci, Sarah;Harvey, William;Poyade, Matthieu
自2019年新冠肺炎大流行开始以来，导致疫情的病毒-SARS-CoV-2-一直在持续演变。病毒刺突蛋白是驱动传染性和传播性的主要蛋白质，其突变尤其令人担忧，因为它们可能会使病毒提高其传染性、传播性和逃避免疫系统的能力。对于非专家来说，了解特定的分子变化如何改变病毒的行为是具有挑战性的，但这些信息有助于我们了解我们正在经历的大流行，以及控制它所需的公共卫生措施和干预措施。为应对新冠肺炎疫情带来的沟通挑战，我们最近开发了一个在线教育应用程序，向公众解释SARS-CoV-2刺突蛋白突变的分子生物学。我们使用了3D建模和动画等可视化技术，这些技术已被证明是分子生物学的高效教学工具，使观看者能够更好地了解蛋白质的结构、功能和动力学。我们还包括互动元素，让用户通过参与数字内容来主动学习，从而提高信息记忆力。本章介绍了我们创建该资源所使用的方法和技术框架，即“SARS-CoV-2棘蛋白突变探索者”(SSPME)。它解释了如何使用分子可视化和3D建模软件来开发相关蛋白质的准确模型；如何使用3D动画软件来准确地可视化SARS-CoV-2感染、传播和抗体逃避的动态分子过程；以及如何使用游戏开发软件将3D模型和动画汇编成关于SARS-CoV-2刺突蛋白突变的全面、信息丰富的交互应用程序。本章说明如何使用尖端可视化技术和技术来改善与分子生物学和感染生物学中复杂主题的科学交流，这对于控制持续的新冠肺炎大流行至关重要。
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2019, the virus responsible for the outbreak-SARS-CoV-2-has continued to evolve. Mutations of the virus' spike protein, the main protein driving infectivity and transmissibility, are especially concerning as they may allow the virus to improve its infectivity, transmissibility, and ability to evade the immune system. Understanding how specific molecular changes can alter the behaviour of a virus is challenging for non-experts, but this information helps us to understand the pandemic we are living through and the public health measures and interventions needed to bring it under control. In response to communication challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, we recently developed an online educational application to explain the molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutations to the general public. We used visualisation techniques such as 3D modelling and animation, which have been shown to be highly effective teaching tools in molecular biology, allowing the viewer to better understand protein structure, function, and dynamics. We also included interactive elements for users to learn actively by engaging with the digital content, and consequently improve information retention.This chapter presents the methodological and technological framework which we used to create this resource, the 'SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutation Explorer' (SSPME). It explains how molecular visualisation and 3D modelling software were used to develop accurate models of relevant proteins; how 3D animation software was used to accurately visualise the dynamic molecular processes of SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission, and antibody evasion; and how game development software was used to compile the 3D models and animations into a comprehensive, informative interactive application on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutations. This chapter indicates how cutting-edge visualisation techniques and technologies can be used to improve science communication about complex topics in molecular biology and infection biology to the general public, something that is critical to gaining control of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.