BOINC - Research of HIV Proteins

[Nubbies]

I would like to share with everyone some research that is currently taking place on the proteins of HIV. First off let me say that I am not a scientist or a researcher, but I have committed my computing resources to these projects to aid those researchers and scientists because I am HIV+. You can do this as well and it is very simple to do; all you need is your home computer. In one project I understand that they are utilizing a PlayStation 3, but I am still looking into this one. The research is happening on multiple computer platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and VirtualBox.

This has apparently been going on for a few years now, but I just learned about this a few days ago. It starts with Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing: AKA: BONIC. A program that was originally designed for SETI program founded by Carl Sagan and Frank Drake. This program is now used by researchers from a variety of fields to (and I quote from the University of Berkeley website) “use the idle time of your computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, or Android) to cure diseases [such as HIV], study global warming, discover pulsars, and many other types of scientific research. It’s safe, secure, and easy.” It caught my attention and quick!

This is where you can obtain the BOINC software and learn more about it: http://boinc.berkeley.edu/index.php

You will also receive credit or at least mentioned; even if it is anonymously, for allowing them to utilize the resources of your computer to conduct their research. Most of these studies appear to be working on full-atom molecular simulations of the HIV proteins namely the protease and reverse transcriptase.

The notable projects using BOINC software to conduct their research on HIV proteins include:

Rosetta@home being conducted by University of Washington Baker Laboratory
Their website is: http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

Rosetta is currently conducting at least three studies on my computer at this present time and here is a graphic of one of those studies.



GPUGrid.net being conducted by University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain
This one I am still looking into. The project shows as “active” and is the one that is utilizing a PlayStation 3. I have added it to my list in the BOINC program, but nothing is running as of yet. I just don’t have many details on this project.
Their website is: https://www.gpugrid.net/

FightAIDS@Home – World Community Grid being conducted by IBM Corporate Citizenship.
This one I have not yet added to my BOINC project list, but I am working on it.
Their website is: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/research/faah/overview.do

There are about 70 different projects going on out there that utilize the BOINC program and they cover a wide variety of scientific studies, but these were the ones that I noted conducting HIV protein research. So join in the research by committing your idle computing time to one or more of these projects to stop HIV in its tracks. The more people that commit to this the greater and stronger the computing grid is. So spread the word!

If you have any questions regarding the BOINC software, the projects, etc. post to this thread or send me a private message and I will be happy to share any knowledge that I have.

[Nubbies]

Just a little update here. BOINC is also available for all Android devices through the Google Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.berkeley.boinc