Dr. Sunil Thomas — a researcher at the Lankenau Institute of Medical Research in Wynnewood — has published the world’s first complete resource on molecular structure of the COVID-19 virus. The Medical Laboratory Observer reported his work.

Thomas’ COVID-19 Genetic Resource Guide is the world’s first compendium of the genetic protein structure of the virus that causes COVID-19.

“COVID-19 variants continue to surge throughout the world,” Thomas said. “At present, an average of 500 Americans die of the disease every day.

“COVID-19 is not going away any time soon. We will continue to need new vaccines and therapies that are safe and more effective than those available today.”

The first COVID-19 vaccines were developed with unprecedented speed.

But it and the vaccines that followed targeted the viral spike protein, the part of the virus that binds to human cells. That limitation enables the spike protein to mutate and evade vaccines that target it.

Thomas’ work at Lankenau continues. He’s now researching a way to develop vaccines for the other 25 viral proteins that are potentially better targets for antiviral drugs and vaccines.

More detail on Sunil Thomas and his research is at the Medical Laboratory Observer.

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A video explanation of the molecular structure of the coronavirus.