Covid breakthrough as LLAMA antibodies have 'significant potential' to eliminate virus

Llamas and camels produce a unique type of tiny antibody that researchers say could be created into a nasal spray to fight COVID-19. Scientists from the Rosalind Franklin Institute has shown that nanobodies —a smaller, simple form of antibody generated by the animals – can effectively target the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. They found that short chains of the molecules, which can be produced in large quantities in the laboratory, significantly reduced signs of the COVID-19 disease when administered to infected animal models.

Nanobodies bind tightly to the virus, eliminating it in cells.

The breakthrough could provide a cheaper and easier alternative to human antibodies taken from patients who have recovered from COVID-19.

These have been used as a key treatment for serious cases during the pandemic, but have to be administered through a needle.

Public Health England has described the research as having “significant potential for both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.”

They added that hat the nanobodies “are among the most effective SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing agents we have ever tested”.

Lead author of the new study, Professor Ray Owens, added: “Nanobodies have a number of advantages over human antibodies.

“They are cheaper to produce and can be delivered directly to the airways through a nebuliser or nasal spray, so can be self-administered at home rather than needing an injection.

“This could have benefits in terms of ease of use by patients but it also gets the treatment directly to the site of infection in the respiratory tract.”

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The nanobodies were then combined together into chains of three to increase their ability to bind to the virus. These were then produced in cells in the laboratory.

The team found three nanobody chains were able to neutralise both the original variants of the COVID-19 virus and the Alpha variant that was first identified in Kent.

It also worked well against the Beta variant first identified in South Africa.

When the nanobody chains – also known as a trimer—were administered to hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2, the animals showed a marked reduction in disease, losing far less weight after seven days than those who remained untreated.

Hamsters that received the nanobody treatment also had a lower viral load in their lungs and airways after seven days than untreated animals.

source: express.co.uk