Research recommends that an antibody fragment, or "nanobody," can neutralize SARS-CoV-2. The authors also express that it is conceivable to create the nanobody economically and at scale, making it a promising candidate for the far and widespread prevention of COVID-19.
As COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases keep on rising, the quest for a viable vaccine against the ailment continues.
A recent report gives encouraging results to a vaccine candidate a work in Russia's progress, yet there is still no information indicating that any vaccine can prevent COVID-19.
It could be months, if not years before a vaccine arrives at everyone.
Meanwhile, however, researchers are busy searching for an effective treatment to moderate symptoms or, even better, to prevent contamination from happening in any case.
In another study in the journal Nature Communications, a group of scientists from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden describes one such treatment.
They outline the creation of an antibody fragment that binds emphatically to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to neutralize the virus.
They additionally say that it is conceivable to produce the fragment economically and at scale and that it has excellent potential as an antiviral agent against the new coronavirus.
Alpaca antibodies
A nanobody, which is a part of an antibody, is short of what one-10th of the size of a normal antibody. Although lot littler, nanobodies are similarly as specific and effective as normal antibodies.
Camelids — the group of animals, incorporating camels, llamas, and alpacas — naturally produce nanobodies. In this study, the nanobody originated from an alpaca.
The researchers injected the alpaca with the new coronavirus's spike protein back in February to acquire the nanobody. The virus utilizes the spike protein to enter cells, but without anyone else, it is harmless.
After 60 days, the scientists took blood samples from the alpaca. The blood samples revealed that its immune system had reacted to the spike protein by creating a few nanobodies.
At that point, the researchers dissected these nanobodies' sequences to check whether any could become a treatment option.
How it works
They discovered one nanobody specifically, called Ty1 that binds unequivocally to the part of the spike protein that usually binds to its receptor, ACE2.
Cells in the body express ACE2 and the virus utilizes it to get to and contaminate cells. Halting the communication between the spike protein and the ACE2 receptor, as this nanobody does, can viably prevent contamination.
"Utilizing cryo-electron microscopy, we had the option to perceive how the nanobody binds to the viral spike at an epitope that covers with the cell receptor ACE2-binding site, giving an auxiliary understanding to the powerful balance activity," explains first study author Dr. Leo Hanke.
The researchers recommend that, if further development is successful, it might be conceivable to utilize the nanobody to prevent contamination in those with the most elevated risk of COVID-19.
It could also be usable on a greater scale to permit more significant sections of the populations to securely return work, school, and other presently restricted activities.
Mass production
The authors claim that such widespreAD utilization of the nanobody is viable because makers can create it inexpensively and enormous.
This is because nanobodies are littler and simpler to produce than customary antibodies and because bacteria can communicate them in huge quantities.
Researchers can also make the nanobodies safe for use in people by utilizing existing techniques. Indeed, previous research has recommended that they can help prevent respiratory infection.
The team is currently exploring strategies to improve the nanobody potency and planning preclinical studies in animals to evaluate whether the treatment can help prevent COVID-19.
The analysts have additionally made the nanobody sequence uninhibitedly available online to facilitate synergistic exploration endeavors and empower fast creation.