Researchers identify potential new drug candidates to combat 'bird flu'

Using protein structures generated by supercomputers, these renderings of the neuraminidase enzyme may help scientists identify potential new drug candidates to fight Avian flu, as strains of the disease become ever more resistant. Potential candidate drugs are shown docked into the neuraminidase active site in panels A-D. Panel A shows the crystal structure protein; panels B-D show proteins generated with molecular dynamics simulations. The images were generated with the Adaptive Poisson Boltzmann Solver and Python Molecular Viewer. Credit: Rommie E. Amaro, Lily S. Cheng, UC San Diego. Source: San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego