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Scientists have identified an antibody in the laboratory that can prevent SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from infecting cells. The antibody acts on the S-peak protein located on the “spines” of the coronavirus and prevents it from penetrating the host cell. Scientists have high hopes for this discovery.
Scientists target the S protein
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that has been identified in China is a type of beta-coronavirus – these are zoonotic coronaviruses that can infect mammals. They cause severe respiratory diseases in humans. The same group of coronaviruses also includes SARS and MERS.
What does the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus look like? So far, scientists have managed to establish that it has a shape similar to a spherical one. It owes its name to the “coronavirus” because of its protein envelope with projections that resemble a crown. Scientists are particularly interested in the spike protein (S), which is responsible for interacting with a receptor on the cell surface. The S protein allows a virus particle to enter a cell and infect it. When the virus gets inside, it replicates, making thousands of copies of itself, which then infect more cells.
Scientists have created a monoclonal antibody that can defeat the new coronavirus by neutralizing the S protein and preventing the virus particle from entering the cell. This is a promising step in the search for treatments and reducing the spread of the pandemic. How it’s working?
See also: This is how the coronavirus attacks human cells. Amazing photos
Monoclonal antibodies arise from a single clone of B lymphocytes. It is a set of antibodies that show the same specificity for a given antigen and possibly the same or similar affinity. Put simply – monoclonal antibodies have a high specificity – they only bind to a specific fragment of an antigen.
Monoclonal antibodies are created in the laboratory and are used in various fields of medicine – oncology, transplantology, dermatology and cardiology.
B lymphocytes for the production of monoclonal antibodies are usually taken from an animal organism (most often mice). Scientists investigated whether monoclonal antibodies could be helpful in the fight against COVID-19. The research has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Scientists have isolated an antibody called 47D11 that, under laboratory conditions, binds to the coronavirus’s S protein and blocks it from working. The study used mice that were modified to produce human-like antibodies. The mice were then injected with the S proteins of the SARS and MERS coronaviruses. The mice developed 51 kinds of antibodies capable of neutralizing the S protein of these viruses. This part of the research was done before the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus appeared. Scientists were looking for ways to stop the virus during the SARS pandemic in 2002.
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, scientists re-examined their findings and observed that one of the antibodies – 47D11 – had the ability to neutralize the S protein present on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spine.
Using the SARS-CoV antibody collection, we identified an antibody that also neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 infection in cultured cells. Such a neutralizing antibody has the potential to alter the course of the infection as well as promote virus removal or protect an uninfected person exposed to the virus, said study co-author Berend-Jan Bosh of the University of Utrecht.
The studies were conducted under laboratory conditions, so it is difficult to say whether the antibody will be effective in vivo in humans. More research is needed, but scientists are already saying the discovery is “exciting”.
The most important information about COVID-19:
- Current data on infections in Poland and in the world
- What if a Coronavirus vaccine fails? History shows that such a scenario must be considered
- From May 4, defrosting of physiotherapy. Which patients will be admitted first?
Have a question about the coronavirus? Send them to the following address: [email protected]. You will find a daily updated list of answers HERE: Coronavirus – frequently asked questions and answers.