According to Reuters, Belgian and American scientists have discovered that antibodies produced by alpaca may be the key to finding a new coronavirus. They found a tiny particle on the alpaca that seemed to stop the virus, which would help scientists to further develop drugs to treat the new coronavirus.
According to the “New York Times” report on the 6th, recently, Belgian scientists found that the alpaca antibodies can eliminate the new coronavirus, the researchers published the relevant results in the United States “Cell” (Cell) magazine on the 5th local time.
According to a research report, a common alpaca named Winter in Belgium participated in a series of studies on SARS and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS). Scientists found that two An effective antibody against MERS and SARS, respectively, and scientists confirmed that these two antibodies can also eliminate the new coronavirus.
The author of the study, Dr Xavier Saelens, a molecular virologist at Ghent University in Belgium, pointed out that since the alpaca antibodies are easily controlled and extracted, these alpaca antibodies can be Other antibodies (including human-made neocrown antibodies) are linked or fused, while these mixed antibodies can remain stable during the above operations.
An unexpected discovery in the laboratory of the University of Brussels in 1989 gave researchers insight into the unusual properties of antibodies in the blood of camels, llamas, and alpacas. These antibodies were initially used in AIDS research and later proved to be effective against many viruses, including the recent outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).
Research indicates that humans produce only one type of new corona antibody, while alpaca produces two types of new corona antibodies, one of which is similar to human antibodies in size and composition, but the other antibody is much smaller. A smaller antibody is more effective in eliminating the new coronavirus.
“New York Times” article pointed out that for a long time, scientists have been studying alpaca antibodies. In the past decade, scientists have used antibodies produced by alpaca in the study of AIDS and influenza and found that the antibodies of alpaca have a good therapeutic effect on these two viruses.
The researchers hope that the antibodies produced by the alpaca will eventually be used for preventive treatment, that is, to inject new alpaca antibodies to people who have not been infected with the new coronavirus to protect them from new coronavirus infections. , So as to protect them from being infected by patients during the treatment of patients with new coronary pneumonia.
In addition to research on alpaca antibodies against MERS and the new coronavirus, scientists have also conducted research on infectious viruses such as AIDS and flu on alpaca. Studies have shown that alpaca can also produce corresponding antibodies to these viruses, and has a good therapeutic effect.
The study emphasizes that although the protective effect of the alpaca new crown antibody is immediate, its effect is not permanent. If the alpaca new crown antibody is not injected again, the protective effect can only last for one to two months.
It is reported that the research team’s goal is to start animal and human trials before the end of this year.
