A Belgian llama called winter

Researchers at the University of Austin in Texas, in collaboration with the Belgian National Institutes of Health and the University of Ghent, Published a paper in Tuesday’s journal “Cell” About the potential use of antibodies found in llamas to fight coronaviruses.

A few years ago, I studied two early forms of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV, which revealed that certain winter antibodies and other llamas effectively attached to viral spike proteins. Cells that have been found to harm and attack other healthy people.

By linking two copies of the llama antibody that worked against the previous SARS virus, the team formed a promising new antibody for the treatment of SAV-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They showed that the new antibody neutralizes the virus displaying the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture.

“While working on this project, a new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus emerged and the spike proteins are quite similar between SARS-CoV-2 and the original SARS,” says UT-Austin. Co-author with Jason McClellan, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology Science. “I thought that if we isolated it, this Nanobody would probably bind to it as well.”

According to McClellan, antibody therapy works almost immediately, unlike most vaccines that need to be introduced and effective in the body months before infection. Potential treatment with llama antibodies may quickly protect vulnerable populations such as the elderly and health care workers.

“Immediately after the injection, they are essentially immune to the virus. Over time, they will probably fade after a few months, but they quickly lose their immunity,” McClellan said.

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Experts say the level of immunity to coronavirus is unknown, even in the presence of antibodies, due to the proliferation of antibody tests in the United States.

The team will soon start an animal experiment, conducted by Belgian researchers. McClellan said he could proceed to a human trial in about two months.

When the point is reached when a large volume of injections need to be manufactured, scientists can grow and grow the antibodies in a controlled environment. In other words, no llama is sacrificed for a useful antibody.

Around the world, many research teams are competing to find effective treatments for coronaviruses. One team at Oxford University wants to test 6,000 by the end of May, According to the New York Times.

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According to McClellan, things are moving fast, and we believe antibody therapy will be one of the most useful ways to fight coronaviruses. He thanks the scientists for their efforts to slow the spread of the virus.

“Each has its strengths and weaknesses and can be used in different ways. The more development you have, the better,” McClellan said of the other studies. “We will continue to learn from them for future pandemics.”

Contributors: Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY

Follow Lara Korte on Twitter. @lara_korte

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