Melanie Connolly of Chicago Medical Graphics built this 3D rendering of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. The visualization includes numerous M surface proteins (PDB 3I6G), a few E pores (PDB 5X29) and several large trimer S spikes. A few of the S spikes show a single chain in the “open” conformation, indicating readiness to bind the ACE2 surface molecule found on human alveolar lung cells. This binding mechanism is part of what has allowed the virus to infect so readily.

3D model created from a mixture of patient inner ear micro-CT data and current literature on vestibulocochlear 3D shape. 

This piece was created to show the method of entry for DNX-2401, an adenovirus which contains modified attachment points (h1 loops) that allow entry only into cancerous cells. Due to this biotechnological advancement, the virus latches to the membrane-bound aVb3 integrin and is shuttled into the cancer cell for replication. The closed aVb3 conformation was modified for this piece to allow visualization of the open conformation to which the virus attaches. This representative modification was based on current experimental studies on conformational changes of the integrin.

After engulfment of the adenovirus via the aVb3 integrin, the cancer cell later lyses, and the virus spreads throughout the tumor like a ripple through a pond. This piece intends to highlight the innovation and method behind this novel tumor therapy. Human clinical trials in patients with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, have recently been approved by the FDA and are ongoing.

This playing card was created for the 2017 Association of Medical Illustrators member meeting in Austin, Texas. The image is a piece from a larger work created for Northwestern University researchers, highlighting the mechanism for action of a novel cochlear implant.