Chemistry plays a major role in our fight against #coronavirus. From disinfectants that remove the pathogen, to tests that identify the illness, to medicines that treat it, in this thread, you can learn about how #chemistry is in the front line of our battle against #covid_19

. #chemistry provides a wide variety of disinfectants, from soaps to hydrogen peroxide and from bleach to alcohol. All of them are very effective against a wide range of pathogens… just DO NOT inject yourself with disinfectant to cure coronavirus https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

Washing your hands is the easiest most effective way to prevent the spread of the #coronavirus. Soaps contain a type of molecules, called surfactants, that dissolve the membrane that protects the genetic material of the virus killing it. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/health/soap-coronavirus-handwashing-germs.html @RSEQUIMICA

Similarly, a number of alcohols, like ethanol and isopropanol, destroy the fat membrane of the virus. This is how most hand sanitizers help us protect ourselves against #COVIDー19 and many other pathogens. https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-not-all-hand-sanitisers-work-against-it-heres-what-you-should-use-133277

Bleach, which active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, is very effective in killing bacteria, fungi and viruses. This is how you can use it to remove coronavirus from surfaces, but please don´t mix bleach with other cleaners as toxic gases can be released https://www.nytimes.com/article/disinfectant-coronavirus.html

Diagnostics for #COVIDー19 typically fall into two broad categories: tests that detect proteins associated with the virus and tests that detect the virus’s genetic code. The former is quicker, but only the latter provides completely reliable results.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-how-coronavirus-tests-work-and-who-offers-them/

To conclusively identify the presence of the virus, doctors use PCR to copy and amplify any segments of viral genetic code found in the sample. PCR tests are very specific and sensitive but a lab and skilled professionals are needed, and of course a PCR https://www.ft.com/content/0faf8e7a-d966-44a5-b4ee-8213841da688

A serological test is used to know if an individual has contracted the #SARS_COV_2 virus by looking for antibodies in a blood sample. However, it takes several weeks before you produce them, so this test is unreliable in the early stages of the illness
https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2020/04/02/antibody-tests-for-the-coronavirus

These are some of the molecules that are being studied to treat #covid_19. It is too early to say if they are safe and effective, but scientists from all around the world are working tirelessly to find a treatment against the #coronavirus. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.0c00272

. #Solidarity is an international clinical trial to help find a treatment for #COVIDー19, launched by @WHO and partners, that will compare four treatment options against standard of care, to assess their relative effectiveness against the #coronavirus. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/global-research-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/solidarity-clinical-trial-for-covid-19-treatments

. #Hydroxychloroquine, an old anti-malarial drug, has received a lot of attention as a potential treatment for #COVIDー19 due to some encouraging but preliminary results. Its side effects pose important challenges especially for people with heart conditions https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/fda-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus.html

The antiviral medicine #remdesivir from @GileadSciences, originally developed to treat Ebola, is showing mixed results to treat #covid-19. Scientists are working around the clock to use this molecule to inhibit viral RNA polymerase, a key enzyme for the replication of the virus.

Among the molecules that are being tested against #Covid_19, #plitidepsin commercialized by the Spanish company @PhrmMar, has shown very effective against HCoV-229E, a close cousin of #SARS_COV_2, in a series of tests at @CNB_CSIC

The #IBM-built Summit supercomputer, the world's most powerful #AI machine, has identified 77 possible treatments that can stop #Covid_19. The study, led by Jeremy Smith from @ORNL, can be downloaded at https://chemrxiv.org/articles/Repurposing_Therapeutics_for_the_Wuhan_Coronavirus_nCov-2019_Supercomputer-Based_Docking_to_the_Viral_S_Protein_and_Human_ACE2_Interface/11871402/3

An international team of 22 laboratories has produced the first #SARS_COV_2-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map. The strategy has focused on known drugs to accelerate the development of an effective treatment. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.22.002386v1.full.pdf

This #SARS_CoV_2-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map reveals drug targets and potential drug repurposing opening up many new avenues to treat #COVID19. Check it out here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-020-0318-1

Researchers have simulated the #coronavirus atom-by-atom to find its weaknesses. The plan is to complete an all-atom model of the virus’s exterior envelope. You can learn more about this amazing study here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.9b01071

This study has been done by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center, @TACC. This atom-by-atom map of the envelope of #SARS_COV_2 can help scientists devise new treatments against #COVID19. https://www.zmescience.com/science/coronavirus-envelope-atom-model-1512354223

Using Cryo-electron microscopy, researchers have been able to magnify the microbe by more than 40,000 times, taking extreme close-ups to understand its structural details. You can have a look at the #coronavirus here: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6483/1260

Para aquellos que habléis español, aquí os dejo este hilo en nuestro idioma sobre los avances científicos en la lucha contra el #covid_19 https://twitter.com/javiergarciamar/status/1242796005956993025

Y este artículo que he escrito recientemente para @materia_ciencia sobre el papel de la química en la lucha contra el https://elpais.com/ciencia/2020-03-25/moleculas-contra-el-coronavirus.html