WASHINGTON: Scientists have identified and tested antibodies that limit the severity of infection from various coronaviruses, including those that cause Covid-19 and SARS disease.
This study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine on Tuesday, isolated antibodies by analyzing blood from patients who have been infected with the SARS-COV-1 virus, which caused the SARS outbreak, and from Covid-19 patients at this time.
“These antibodies have the potential to become therapeutic for the current epidemic,” said co-senior research writer Barton Haynes, Director of Duke University Human Institute (DHVI), USA.
“It can also be available for outbreaks in the future, if or when other Coronavirus jumps from hosting their natural animal to humans,” Haynes said.
The researchers identified more than 1,700 antibodies, produced by the immune system to bind specific viruses to block pathogens from infecting cells.
When the virus mutates, many binding quotes are changed or removed, leaving antibodies ineffectiveness, they said.
However, the researchers noted that there were often sites on viruses that remained unchanged despite mutations.
They focus on antibodies.
These sites are because their potential is very effective in various virus genealogies.
Of the 1,700 antibodies of two individuals, the researchers found 50 antibodies who had the ability to bind the SARS-COV-1 virus and SARS -COV-2, which caused Covid-19.
Further analysis found that one of the cross binding antibodies could bind a lot of Koronavirus animals in addition to two pathogens that infect humans.
“These antibodies are binding to Coronavirus in a preserved location in various mutations and variations,” Haynes said.
“As a result, it can neutralize various kinds of Coronavirus,” he explained.
Researchers at North Carolina University at Chapel Hill (UNC), US, test antibodies in mice to determine whether it can effectively block or minimize infection.
They found that when given before infected animals, antibodies protect mice against the development of SARS, Covid-19 and its variants such as Delta.
The researchers also found that antibodies provide protection from many coronavirus animals that have the potential to cause human pandemics.
“This finding provides a template for the rational design of the universal vaccine strategy which is proof of a variant and provides a broad protection of the known and developing coronavirus,” said the co-senior study writer Ralph S Baric, a professor at the Global Global Public Health School Gillings.
When given after infection, antibodies reduce severe lung symptoms compared to animals that are not treated with antibodies, according to researchers.
“Therapy activities even after infected mice showed that this could be the treatment used in the current pandemic, but also wasted to prevent the spread of future epidemics with the virus related to SARS,” said David Martinez, a post-doctoral researcher at the Gillings UNC school .
“These antibodies can be used to prevent possible SARS-COV-3 or SARS-COV-4,” added Martinez.