One of the most powerful coronavirus cures might come from this surprising source

• Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine identified a llama antibody that can block the novel coronavirus from infecting cells.
• The nanobodies are extremely efficient at neutralizing the spike protein of the virus, according to the study.
• A compound based on llama antibodies could be used in an inhaler to send those nanobodies deep into the lungs of COVID-19 patients and block the virus from doing more damage.

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Llamas and other camelids might help scientists develop powerful coronavirus drugs that could treat COVID-19 patients. The first such tests were performed early in the pandemic, with researchers looking at llama antibodies for creating monoclonal antibody drugs that would work inside human hosts. These are similar to human antibodies that the immune system produces upon infection with a pathogen like SARS-CoV-2. Some of those antibodies are called neutralizing antibodies because they can block the virus from binding to cells. Without the ability to infect cells, the virus can’t replicate itself and it’s eventually killed off. The lower the quantity of the virus inside the body, the lower the intensity of symptoms and the faster the recovery.

Potent antibodies can be turned into monoclonal antibody drugs that will boost the defense of COVID-19 patients and maybe even provide some limited immunity. But monoclonal antibody treatment will not work on all patients, as recent data has shown. Moreover, the treatment requires hospitalization because the monoclonal antibodies are administered intravenously. At least, we thought that would be the case.

Researchers who are studying promising llama-derived antibodies think they made a breakthrough discovery. Llamas can develop nanobodies, or tinier antibodies, that are very stable and very efficient at blocking the virus. Antibody drugs derived from these nanobodies could treat patients at home via an inhaled spray that would pulverize the coronavirus inside the lungs.

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One of the most powerful coronavirus cures might come from this surprising source originally appeared on BGR.com on Mon, 9 Nov 2020 at 18:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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