GOLD RIVER, Calif., April 9, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Coronavirus continues to place unprecedented strain on the global economy and our healthcare system. Governments around the world are racing to contain the spread of infection and treat those with the virus. In order to create awareness and understanding of the science behind a potential vaccine, Elara Systems partnered with Jason McLellan and his team at The University of Texas at Austin and the National Institutes of Health to create an educational 3D animation. Mr. McLellan and his team were recently credited with identifying the key to targeting this virus and developing a potential vaccine on an expedited basis.

Elara's animation details the shape of the coronavirus spike protein. The spike protein acts as a major surface protein that binds to a receptor on healthy human cells. Once the spike protein and the surface of the human cell membrane fuse together, the genome of the virus can enter the human cell and begin infection. The animation shows how these proteins latch onto receptors on a microscopic level, so people -- including researchers -- can learn more about the mechanism of action of the spike protein and its ability to spread infection once the virus gets into the body. Understanding the specific properties and behavior of the spike protein is crucial when it comes to developing a vaccine.

Private companies and health agencies all over the world have started working on a range of potential vaccines. These companies include BravoVax in China, Takis and Evvivax in Rome, and GeoVax and Moderna in the U.S. These companies are working in coordination with the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), a part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Developing a vaccine will help slow the spread of the virus, thus reducing the impact on our global economy and health systems. Once a vaccine has been identified, scientists can begin distributing it to healthcare providers around the world so that it can be administered to the general public. When we achieve this crucial goal, we can finally put the worst of the pandemic behind us.

Based in Northern California, Elara is a strategic creative agency that develops digital content for medical and industrial markets across the globe. For almost 20 years, Elara has partnered with clients to develop creative solutions to showcase their vision and transform digital content mediums — including virtual reality, mixed and augmented reality, 3D, and video. Elara specializes in creating deeply interactive experiences for teaching, training, marketing, and sales.

SOURCE Elara Systems