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Researchers Determine Chemical Structure of HIV Capsid

Posted by timothy on from the new-line-of-attack dept.

adeelarshad82 writes "Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have determined the precise chemical structure of the HIV 'capsid,' a protein shell that protects the virus's genetic material and is a key to its virulence. The experiment involved mapping an incredible 64 million atoms to simulate the HIV capsid, pictured here. Interestingly no current HIV drugs target the HIV capsid and researchers believe that understanding the structure of the HIV capsid may hold the key to the development of new and more effective antiretroviral drugs. What makes this whole experiment even more fascinating is the use of Blue Waters, a Cray XK7 supercomputer with 3,000 Nvidia Tesla K20X GPU accelerators."

1 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Re:this was with 0.011 exaFLOPS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    We'll have +100 exaFLOP systems in five years, 100 times the performance. Major structures in cells, and complete viruses, will be modelled to the atomic level

    And yet, I wonder if we'll actually see a true cure for any of the major diseases inflicting mankind today, instead of simply more powerful "drugs", ensuring perpetual revenue streams.

    Oh, I'm being cynical and pessimistic?

    Greed has killed millions. If you want to argue against that fact, go talk to a wall.