COVID-19: Llama antibodies have 'significant potential' as coronavirus treatment with new research hailed

[Mary Wilson]

Wednesday 22 September 2021 11:59, UK

Alexander Martin

Llamas produce a unique kind of antibody which scientists believe could offer a new frontline treatment against COVID-19, administered via a nasal spray.

Nanobodies, a smaller and simpler form of antibody produced by llamas and camels, can effectively target the novel coronavirus, new research published in the journal Nature Communication has found.

Scientists at the Rosalind Franklin Institute in the UK have identified short chains of these molecules that can significantly reduce signs of COVID-19 when given to other infected animals.

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-llama-antibodies-have-significant-potential-as-coronavirus-treatment-with-new-research-hailed-12414266?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter

[sharon sanders]

• Article
• Open Access
• Published: 22 September 2021

A potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralising nanobody shows therapeutic efficacy in the Syrian golden hamster model of COVID-19

• Jiandong Huo,
• Halina Mikolajek,
• […]
• Raymond J. Owens

Nature Communications volume 12, Article number: 5469 (2021) Cite this article


Abstract


SARS-CoV-2 remains a global threat to human health particularly as escape mutants emerge. There is an unmet need for effective treatments against COVID-19 for which neutralizing single domain antibodies (nanobodies) have significant potential. Their small size and stability mean that nanobodies are compatible with respiratory administration. We report four nanobodies (C5, H3, C1, F2) engineered as homotrimers with pmolar affinity for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Crystal structures show C5 and H3 overlap the ACE2 epitope, whilst C1 and F2 bind to a different epitope. Cryo Electron Microscopy shows C5 binding results in an all down arrangement of the Spike protein. C1, H3 and C5 all neutralize the Victoria strain, and the highly transmissible Alpha (B.1.1.7 first identified in Kent, UK) strain and C1 also neutralizes the Beta (B.1.35, first identified in South Africa). Administration of C5-trimer via the respiratory route showed potent therapeutic efficacy in the Syrian hamster model of COVID-19 and separately, effective prophylaxis. The molecule was similarly potent by intraperitoneal injection.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25480-z

[sharon sanders]

Please also see:

Seattle researchers hope llama antibodies lead to coronavirus treatment

Cell. Structural Basis for Potent Neutralization of Betacoronaviruses by Single-Domain Camelid Antibodies

Nat Struct Mol Biol . Neutralizing nanobodies bind SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and block interaction with ACE2