A COVID-19 Virus 'Roadmap' Made In Massachusetts

WORCESTER, MA — Scientists across the globe are working to combat the new coronavirus outbreak, including right here in Massachusetts.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute professor Dmitry Korkin recently completed work on a 3D "roadmap" of the novel virus, now known as COVID-19. Korkin's map shows how the virus' main proteins interact with human proteins, which helps show how human antibodies fend off the virus.

Korkin found that COVID-19 is similar to another type of coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. His theory is that COVID-19 may be able to block human antibodies better than SARS. His research also looked at drugs that might help humans fight off the virus.

As of Feb. 13, about 47,000 people around the world had contracted COVID-19. All but 447 of those were inside China, where the novel virus originated in Wuhan. Only one person in Massachusetts has had the virus.

The state Department of Public Health says that the risk of contracting the virus is very low here, and is not recommending extra precautions, like wearing a mask in public. Health officials advise sick people to stay home, and for everyone else to take simple precautions like washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.

Here's a video showing Korkin's 3D model:

Korkin's map and data are free for anyone to download.