The player decodes the enzyme structure of the AIDS virus

Gamers have decoded the structure of an enzyme of the AIDS virus, which has prevented scientists for the past decade.

This finding was published on September 18, 2011 in Journal of Structural and Molecular Biology. Both gamers and researchers are honored to be co-authors.

The goal of this finding is to create a complex molecular slice of an enzyme of the HIV virus.

Finding the structure of protein is important, indicating the causes of many diseases and drugs to prevent disease. However, the microscope only provides a one-dimensional flat image. But pharmacists need a picture of a 3-D "open" molecule and turn it around to find treatable drugs.

In 2008, the University of Washington opened a video game, in which gamers were divided into groups competing to unleash amino acid sequences - building proteins using a set of tools. online.

For the first time, players decode the structure of the enzyme that causes AIDS (Photo: AFP)

Scientists were surprised when gamers created an accurate model of this enzyme in just 3 weeks.

Clarifying enzyme structure 'provides new insights for the use of antiviral drugs' , studies drugs against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

This is the first time gamers have solved a long-standing scientific problem.

'We want to know if human intuition can succeed when automated methods fail. Gamers 'ingenuity is a very powerful force if properly oriented, which could solve a variety of scientific problems' , Firas Khatib of the university's biochemistry laboratory said in a message. press release.

One of the creators of this enzyme structure image, Seth Cooper, explained why gamers were successful while the computer was not successful.

'People have spatial skills, but computers don't perform well. The game provides a framework with the strengths of computers and people. This week's results show that gaming, science and computers can be combined to make advances that have not been achieved before , 'Cooper said.