{"id":47985,"date":"2023-07-18T00:20:20","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T00:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peymantaeidi.net\/stem-cell\/?p=47985"},"modified":"2023-07-18T00:37:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T00:37:58","slug":"for-better-vaccines-scientists-mess-with-dna-to-form-origami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peymantaeidi.net\/stem-cell\/2023\/07\/18\/for-better-vaccines-scientists-mess-with-dna-to-form-origami\/","title":{"rendered":"For better vaccines, scientists mess with DNA to form \u2018origami\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Picture a virus. Are you thinking of the spiky ball shape<\/a> of COVID or HIV? Or the alien like spines of a bacteriophage<\/a>?<\/p>\n

While virus shapes are incredibly versatile, an international team of researchers decided to get even more creative, using DNA \u2018origami\u2019 templates<\/a> to mould how viruses assemble themselves.<\/p>\n

The fun-shaped results will hopefully allow scientists to create better vaccines.<\/p>\n

The research has been published in Nature Nanotechnology.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Viruses are simply genetic information carrying boxes<\/a>. The \u2018box\u2019 is called the capsid, and this protects all the important DNA or RNA inside.<\/p>\n

Capsids are normally made up of 20 triangular faces (like a 20-sided die), but they can also have less sides, or be \u2018helical\u2019 and look more like tubes.<\/a><\/p>\n

To form these capsids, the DNA or RNA inside the capsid has specific instructions for the machinery inside a living cell on how to make more. When a virus infects a cell, the instructions are pulled out and the cell starts producing new parts.<\/p>\n

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Get an update of science stories delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Natnano\"\"Natnano\"
The capsid coating on structures with different thickness and shape.
\nCredit: Springer Nature<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The researchers took this already finetuned process and added an extra bit \u2013 origami.<\/p>\n

DNA origami is the technique of folding DNA into shapes. The team \u2013 some of which are from Griffith University in Queensland \u2013 created 3D hoops and tubes of different sizes all made of DNA, which the capsid then grew over.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis activity is more like wrapping a present \u2013 the virus proteins deposit on top of the different shape that is defined by the DNA origami shape,\u201d says Dr Frank Sainsbury, a virologist at Griffith.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd different virus proteins are like different wrapping paper, which would be relevant to different uses of the coated DNA origami.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although this does sound a bit like a viral arts and crafts project, the reason for it is important. The researchers found that the capsid still worked at protecting the inner DNA, meaning that these could be used for genetic vaccines, or delivery systems of certain genetic information.<\/p>\n

Basically, the design allowed the team to use the virus ability to sneak into our body for their own ends.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Jacinta\"Jacinta<\/p>\n

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Jacinta Bowler<\/h3>\n

Jacinta Bowler is a science journalist at Cosmos. They have an undergraduate degree in genetics and journalism from the University of Queensland and have been published in the Best Australian Science Writing 2022.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Read science facts, not fiction…<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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