News (1)
Llama mini-antibodies can fight novel coronavirus
Reporter : Xin Yu / Publisher : Chinese Science News / http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlpaper/2020/12/2020122414363119560437.shtm / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : Llama (ginton / stock.adobe.com)
On 22 December 2020, researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a study in the "Science Reports" that they had isolated a group of mini-antibodies (or nanobodies), that were promising against SARS-CoV-2 (covi, CCP virus, novel coronavirus), from a llama named Cormac. Preliminary results indicate that at least one of these nanobodies, called NIH-CoVnb-112, can prevent covi infection and detect virus particles by grabbing the spike protein of the CCP virus. In addition, Nanobodies perform well in liquid or aerosol form, indicating that they can remain effective after inhalation.
The research was led by neuroscientist Thomas J. Esparza and MD David L. Brody, MD, who worked in the Brain Imaging Laboratory of the National Institute of Neurology and Stroke.
Brody said, "For many years, Esparza and I have been testing how to use nanobodies to improve brain imaging. We hope that these anti-coronavirus nanobodies will be highly effective and versatile in fighting the pandemic."
Nanobodies are a special type of antibodies naturally produced by the immune system of camelid animals. On average, the weight of these protein antibodies is about 1/10 that of most human antibodies. This is because the nanobody isolated in the laboratory is essentially a free-floating form at the end of the heavy chain protein arm, forming a typical Y-shaped human IgG antibody skeleton, thereby recognizing proteins on viruses, bacteria and other antigens. The immune system plays a key role in the defense.
Because nanobodies are more stable, cheaper to produce and easier to engineer than general antibodies, more and more researchers are beginning to use nnobodies for medical research. During the covid pandemic, some researchers have prepared llama nanoantibodies against the spike protein of the CCP virus, which may be effective in preventing covi infection. In this study, the researchers used a slightly different method from other strategies to find nanobodies that have very good effects.
Esparza said, "The novel coronavirus spike protein is very critical. When it binds to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor protein on the surface of certain cells, it opens the door to infection. We have developed a method, The infection can be prevented by covering the teeth of the spike protein attached to the ACE2 receptor with the nanobody."
To this end, the researchers used the purified version of the covi spike protein to immunize Cormac five times in 28 days. After testing hundreds of nanobodies, they found that 13 nanobodies produced by Cormac may be strong candidates.
Initial experiments showed that a candidate antibody called NIH-CoVnb-112 can work well. Test tube studies have shown that the binding force of this nanobody to the ACE2 receptor is 2-10 times that of nanobody produced in other laboratories. Other experiments have shown that NIH nanobodies can directly adhere to the ACE2 receptor binding part of the spike protein.
Then the research team showed that NIH-CoVnB-112 nanobody can effectively prevent covi infection. In order to mimic the novel coronavirus, the researchers genetically modified a harmless "pseudovirus" so that it can use the spike protein to infect cells with human ACE2 receptors. The researchers found that relatively low levels of NIH-CoVnb-112 Nanobody can prevent the pseudovirus from infecting these cells in the petri dish.
It is worth mentioning that the researchers found that when nanobodies are sprayed through a nebulizer or inhaler, they are equally effective in preventing infection. Brody said, "The exciting thing is that, unlike most antibodies, nanobodies can be inhaled by aerosol, covering the lungs and airways." The team has applied for a patent for the NIH-CoVnB-112 nanobody.
"Although we still have a lot of work to do, these results represent new hope." Esparza said, "With the support of NIH, we are conducting in-depth research to test whether these nanobodies can be used as a safe and effective prevention method for covid. We are working hard to find whether they can be used for low-cost and accurate novel coronavirus detection.”
Related paper information: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79036-0
News (2)
Canadian researchers say colchicine has positive effects in covid treatment trials
Reporter Yu Ruidong / Publisher : China News Network / http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2021/1/452297.shtm / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
The medical research team in Montreal, Canada announced that they have found that colchicine has a positive effect in the covid treatment trial and can become an effective oral drug against SARS-CoV-2 (CCP virus, covi, novel coronavirus).
Colchicine is also known as colchicine and colaxi tablets. It is often used to treat and prevent the symptoms of gout.
Image courtesy (above) : shutterstock
The Montreal Heart Institute announced on 23 January 2020 that the clinical trial of colchicine has provided clinically convincing results. According to the study, this "major scientific discovery" makes colchicine "the world's first oral drug that can be used to treat non-hospitalized patients with covid."
The research team of the Institute conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of nearly 4,488 people infected with the new coronavirus in Canada, the United States, Europe, South America and South Africa. The research team said that the nasopharyngeal nucleic acid test on 4159 patients has verified the efficacy of colchicine. Its research found that colchicine can reduce the number of hospitalizations by 25%, the need for respiratory equipment by 50%, and the number of deaths by 44%.
Research team leader Jean-Claude Tardif, director of the research center of the institute, said that research shows that colchicine can effectively prevent major inflammatory storms and reduce complications caused by the new crown virus.
Spartan, a medical diagnostic equipment company based in Ottawa, announced on 23 January that its rapid and convenient detection kit for the novel coronavirus has been approved by Health Canada. The company's rapid testing equipment was approved in April last year, but was recalled a month later due to doubts about its effectiveness.
As of the evening of 23 January, Canada has reported a total of more than 737,000 confirmed covid cases, with 5,957 new cases in a single day. There are 18,828 deaths and 65,750 active cases.
Canadian Chief Public Health Officer Tan Yongshi said in a statement that the number of new cases per day in the past 10 days is showing a downward trend. She said that although this indicates that community-based epidemic prevention measures may begin to work, it is still too early to ensure a steady decline.
In a long-term care home in Barrie, Ontario, almost all of the nearly 130 residents were infected with the new crown virus, and more than 80 staff were infected. The local health department disclosed that many of them have been confirmed to have been infected with the mutant virus that emerged in the UK. This serious mass violence has resulted in 32 deaths. A teenager working in a long-term care home in the western part of the province also died after contracting the new crown, becoming the youngest local death case.
No comments:
Post a Comment