The University of Texas (UT) reported in Cell magazine that researchers at its University in Austin and the University of Ghent in Belgium wanted to develop a treatment option for Covid-19. The knowledge that llamas are able to raise antibodies against the virus helps them do this.
As early as 2016, researchers from the University of Ghent carried out basic research on a llama by administering harmless amounts of the Sars and Mers virus to it. The llama actually produced antibodies that can neutralize corona viruses. At that time, however, there was no need to treat these viruses.
Llama antibodies neutralize corona viruses
This finding could now be of great importance. The researchers from Belgium, together with scientists from the University of Texas, linked two specimens of a special type of antibody that llamas produce to create a new antibody that closely binds to a key protein of the corona virus that causes COVID-19. This spike protein enables the virus to break into host cells. Initial tests indicate that the antibody prevents viruses that contain this spike protein from infecting cells in culture.
“This is one of the first antibodies known to neutralize SARS-CoV-2,” said Jason McLellan, professor of molecular life sciences at UT Austin and co-senior author. Further studies on animals are to be carried out before the effectiveness can be tested on humans.
“Vaccines must be given a month or two before infection to provide protection,” said McLellan. “With antibody therapies, you give someone the protective antibodies directly, so they should be protected immediately after treatment.” The antibodies could also help alleviate the course of corona disease.
Llamas produce two types of antibodies
When the immune system of llamas detects foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses, these animals produce two different antibodies: one type resembles human antibodies, the other is only about a quarter the size. These smaller, so-called single-domain antibodies or nanobodies can be nebulized and used in an inhaler. “This makes it potentially interesting as a respiratory pathogen medication because it takes you straight to the site of the infection,” said Daniel Wrapp, a PhD student in McLellan’s lab and co-author of the work.
You can read all current developments regarding the corona virus in the ticker on inFranken.de
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