updated: Dec 24 2020, 13:04 ist
Scientists have isolated a set of promising, tiny antibodies or nanobodies against the novel coronavirus from a llama, some of which may help prevent the infection.
Preliminary results, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggest that the nanobody appears to work equally well in either liquid or aerosol form, suggesting it could remain effective after inhalation.
The researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US said at least one of these nanobodies, called NIH-CoVnb-112, could prevent infections and detect virus particles by grabbing hold of the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19. We hope that these anti-Covid-19 nanobodies may be highly effective and versatile in combating the coronavirus pandemic, said David L. Brody, who is also a professor at Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences.
Scientists find promising antibodies against COVID-19 from a llama
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
In a new study, researchers have isolated a set of promising, tiny antibodies, or “nanobodies,” against COVID-19 that were produced by a llama named Cormac.
They found that at least one of these nanobodies, called NIH-CoVnb-112, could prevent infections and detect virus particles by grabbing hold of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins.
In addition, the nanobody appeared to work equally well in either liquid or aerosol form, suggesting it could remain effective after inhalation.
The research was conducted by the National Institutes of Health scientists.
A nanobody is a special type of antibody naturally produced by the immune systems of camelids, a group of animals that includes camels, llamas, and alpacas.
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IMAGE: NIH scientists showed that anti-COVID-19 nanobodies from a llama may be an effective tool in the battle against the COVID-19 virus. view more
Credit: Courtesy of Brody lab NIH/NINDS.
National Institutes of Health researchers have isolated a set of promising, tiny antibodies, or nanobodies, against SARS-CoV-2 that were produced by a llama named Cormac. Preliminary results published in
Scientific Reports suggest that at least one of these nanobodies, called NIH-CoVnb-112, could prevent infections and detect virus particles by grabbing hold of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. In addition, the nanobody appeared to work equally well in either liquid or aerosol form, suggesting it could remain effective after inhalation. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Scientists isolate anti-COVID-19 nanobodies produced by a llama
National Institutes of Health researchers have isolated a set of promising, tiny antibodies, or nanobodies, against SARS-CoV-2 that were produced by a llama named Cormac. Preliminary results published in
Scientific Reports suggest that at least one of these nanobodies, called NIH-CoVnb-112, could prevent infections and detect virus particles by grabbing hold of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. In addition, the nanobody appeared to work equally well in either liquid or aerosol form, suggesting it could remain effective after inhalation. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.
The study was led by a pair of neuroscientists, Thomas J. T.J. Esparza, B.S., and David L. Brody, M.D., Ph.D., who work in a brain imaging lab at the NIH s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).