Experts believe that antibodies, known as nanobodies, found in llamas could be the key to treating Covid-19 in patients. Lab work carried out by a team at the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxford University has shown that the antibodies can fight off coronavirus – giving scientists hope that it could be used as a possible treatment down the line.
According to a post shared by the BBC News Instagram account earlier today, scientists have been engineering antibodies in llama blood which have proven to bind to Covid-19, blocking it from entering human cells.
The post reads:
“They’re fluffy, they’re cute, and their blood may hold the key to treating coronavirus. Welcome to the world of llama pharma!
Scientists in the UK have used antibodies evolved in the blood of llamas to make an immune-boosting therapy for Covid-19. The resulting llama-based “antibody cocktail” could start clinical trials within months. The study involves “engineering” llama antibodies.
Llama and alpaca antibodies are relatively small, and much simpler than those found in human blood. That means they can be “redesigned” in the lab.”
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