In the study, the researchers combined two copies of a special type of antibody that llamas produce to create a new antibody.
This binds closely to a key protein (spike protein) of the coronavirus, which enables the virus to penetrate into host cells.
Initial tests indicate that the antibody prevents viruses containing this spike protein from infecting cell cultures.
The current study at the University of Texas at Austin found that SARS-CoV-2 could be fought with the help of Lamas’ antibodies.
It also seems to be possible to use it if you already have COVID-19.
The results of the study were published in the English-language journal “Cell”.
Llamas could help combat the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in a special way.
The antibodies of the animals may be the key to the development of an antibody therapy against SARS-CoV-2 according to a recent study.
Preclinical studies on other animals are in preparation
Protection from COVID-19 by llamas?
This is one of the first antibodies known to neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the researchers report.
The team is now preparing to conduct preclinical studies on animals such as hamsters or non-human primates.
Hopefully, human tests can then be carried out in the near future, the researchers report.
The aim is to develop a treatment that helps people quickly after being infected with the virus.
Vaccines need to be given a month or two before infection to provide protection, but with antibody therapies, the protective antibodies are administered directly, the research group explains.
Therefore, the treated person benefits from a protective effect immediately after the treatment.
The researchers also report that the antibodies could be used to treat people who are already ill, thereby reducing the severity of the disease.
Research group creates new antibody
This would be particularly helpful for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, who have a moderate response to vaccines, which may mean that their protection may be incomplete.
Healthcare workers and others at increased risk of exposure to viruses may also benefit from immediate protection.
When the immune system of llamas detects foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses, these animals produce two types of antibodies.
One of these types resembles human antibodies.
The other type of antibody is particularly small.
The research group next took a blood sample and isolated antibodies that bound to each version of the spike protein.
One of the antibodies appeared very promising and prevented viruses of the SARS-CoV-1 genus from infecting cell cultures.
The lama called Winter, used by the researchers, is four years old and lives on a farm in the Belgian countryside with around 130 other llamas and alpacas.
The animal was approximately nine months old at the time of the research.
The study examined two previous coronaviruses: SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV.
Similar to people who had to be vaccinated against a virus, stabilized spike proteins of these viruses were injected into the llama over the course of about six weeks.
The research group explains that these smaller so-called single-domain antibodies or nanobodies can be used in an inhaler, for example.
This makes these antibodies very interesting for a potential drug against respiratory pathogens because they can be brought directly to the site of the infection.
Tekk.tv health
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