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Cysteine proteases (CPs), a key enzyme family regulating physiological metabolism and mediating pathological processes (such as abnormal bone resorption, tumour invasion, and pathogen infection), represent a core therapeutic target for developing specific inhibitors in disease intervention. Currently reported CP inhibitors primarily achieve their inhibitory function by precisely binding to CP active pockets (e.g., S1-S4 non-primed regions or S1'-S2' primed regions) and forming covalent/non-covalent interactions with the active site cysteine residues, providing clear structural references for the development of novel inhibitors.

This compound library, designed based on the core strategy of "similarity-based known active structures", contains over 200 cysteine protease inhibitors. Leveraging AI-driven molecular screening technology, it retains the critical pharmacological and shape features of reported CP inhibitors, serving as a specialized tool for efficiently discovering novel cysteine protease inhibitors.

Tibetan medicine, as one of the treasures of traditional Chinese medicine, carries the profound cultural heritage of the Tibetan people and their unique understanding of health. Tibet is the birthplace of Tibetan medicine, and its plateau climate and unique ecological environment have nurtured its rich medicinal resources. Among them, cordyceps, saffron and snow lily are favored by people for their excellent medicinal value and unique growth characteristics. Tibetan medicine, with its profound heritage, plays a crucial role in the management of diseases that are unique to high-altitude regions, such as altitude stress. It facilitates a swifter adaptation to high-altitude conditions and mitigates the symptoms of altitude sickness by meticulously recalibrating the internal environment within the human body. For rheumatic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, etc., Tibetan medicine has also shown its remarkable effect.

MCE included 1,151 natural products from Tibetan medicine, including animal, plant and mineral sources.

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Parasites of humans include protozoans, helminths, and ecto-parasites (organisms that live on the external surface of a host). They are responsible for many diseases and are transmitted to their hosts most often through the ingestion of contaminated food, water or through the bite of an arthropod (e.g., a fly or tick), which can act as an intermediate host and as a vector. Parasitic diseases of humans are a major global health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. Each year there are hundreds of millions of people infected with disease-causing parasites, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, resulting in an estimated one million deaths. Therefore, there is a dire need of novel anti-parasitic drugs.

MCE has a unique collection of 583 compounds with validated anti-parasitic activity which offer researchers an opportunity to screen novel anti-parasitic targets.