[ad_1]
Researchers have made an important discovery in the fight against Covid-19. Lamas, and more specifically their antibodies, could help block the coronavirus before it infects cells in the human body.
Since the start of the pandemic that devastated the world and the economy, researchers have redoubled their efforts to develop an effective vaccine, but also a remedy that could be used to avoid patient deaths and serious complications related to Covid-19. This isn’t the first time scientists have been studying animals to see if they can help in the joint fight against SARS-CoV-2. Last month, researchers found that cats’ immune systems defend very well against infections. This allowed the researchers to contribute to the development of the vaccine. As for them, the lamas have already been studied for several months. Researchers are focusing on their antibodies that could afford it create monoclonal antibodies to act inside the human body.
The nano-antibodies in llamas are capable of neutralizing the coronavirus
Whether it is SARS-CoV-2 or any other virus, the human body always reacts the same way. As soon as an infection is detected, the immune system produces antibodies to defend against the pathogen. The advantage of llama antibodies is that they are more effective than human antibodies in blocking SARS-CoV-2. In fact, they are able to detect and neutralize the coronavirus even before it infects cells. Therefore, patients can self-medicate at home thanks to these highly effective antibodies. They would just need to use an inhaler that would neutralize the coronavirus inside the lungs.
A team of researchers fromUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine published his study in the journal Science. The researchers purposely infected a llama and waited between 50 and 55 days. Then them analyzed nano-antibodies produced by camelid. They were smaller and more stable than human antibodies. Furthermore, the researchers noted that a small fraction of these nano-antibodies would suffice neutralizes a certain amount of coronavirus otherwise responsible for the infection of millions of cells.
Finally, the llama nano-antibodies discovered by the researchers must first demonstrate their efficacy and safety in clinical trials before they can be used on a large scale. Furthermore, doctors have been using human antibodies for several months already. The blood of patients recovered from Covid-19 can be transfused to sick patients to transmit antibodies to them. More recently, researchers have found a way to stop the infection before the immune response gets out of hand. Dogs are also proving useful during this pandemic not to produce antibodies, but to contribute to faster and more efficient screening for Covid-19.
Source: BGR
Source link
