Can HIV/AIDS be treated? Can we really help in fight about this disease? GPUgrid makes it with ease.

My second weekly post, connected with Gridcoin, is related with medicine again and GPUgrid project in particular. All we know how dangerous and deadly is AIDS and how mean a disease it is. Scientists make their best to fight and cure this deadly enemy and knowing how to treat it is maybe just round the corner. Of course we can devote our idle resources to some causes and projects, which are whitelisted in Gridcoin website, and thus help scientific progress of medicine.

Image source
Deaths, caused by AIDS

But how GPUgrid can help fighting AIDS?

The first emerge of the protein "protease", also called the "scissors" protein, is one of the most important and intriguing aspects of HIV maturation. Here the paradoxal story is like the one about the chicken and the egg - Every mature protease molecule is a result of an immature form, being chained up in the longer poly-proteins. These so-called "rope" poly-proteins are cut by the initial(in this case) protein, called "scissors". And if this "scissors" was once a part of the "rope" how was the firs "scissors" released?!?
Of course this question is on atomic level and requires a lot of computation power and devoted scientists' work. GPUgrid project allows the project team to successfully tackle this problem and it's been proven, that the first "scissors" can cut itself from the "rope". Shown in some computer graphical models, binds one of its free ends, which is originally connected to another "rope" protein, eventually cutting itself from the base. This exact process is in the base of HIV maturation and the virus itself will not mature if the process is controlled. Developing a working "antidote" is really possible, but there's a lot more, that scientists cannot really figure off.

Viral particles of the virus maturate and become dangerous through the action, in which the viral enzyme(HIV protease) begins to act just like a pair of scissors. It cuts the long poly-protein "ropes" into shapes, that afterwards go on into forming the structure of a new virion. The heavy studies behind this structure, and its dynamics and structure in particular, have led to discovery of many antiretrovial inhibitors, which can treat the virus in a very limited manner. The complete process is not entirely known down to atomic levels and still a lot of research is needed. Of course these atomic models are very complex and need a lot of computation power and resources. Further researches will most likely lead to better AIDS treatment and will provide a great basis about protein knowledge. Of course, the scientists' computers will be able to cope with the task themselves, but the question is for how long? GPUgrid project provides a great chance to minimize this time and help fight the virus sooner.

Image source
TAY - The Brighton and Hove Aids Memorial by Romany Mark Bruce 2009

Are you willing to help science and say NO to pointless hashing of other cryptocurrencies?
Humankind needs our help and even a tiny bit of idle power will be well appreciated by the medical scientists. Are you ready to reconsider your attitude about cryptocurrencies and energy wastes?
Everybody is welcome to our society.

Sources:
https://www.gpugrid.net/- The main website of the project, source of information.
https://www.gridcoin.us/ and https://gridcoin.science/ - official Gridcoin websites.
https://boinc.berkeley.edu/ - BOINC client instructions and download.
Photos from Google search engine.