German scientists have developed nanobodies that effectively block the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its dangerous new variants and, at the same time, are a thousand times superior to analogues created previously. This is stated in an article published in The EMBO Journal.
Since nanobodies can be produced in large quantities and at low cost, if clinical trials are successful, the agent will be able to meet the global demand for therapeutic drugs against COVID-19, the researchers say.
Nanobodies are smaller versions of antibodies that bind to and neutralize viruses and other infectious agents. Mini-antibodies, or VHH, are directed against the S protein of the coronavirus, which is involved in the binding of the virus to receptors on the surface of the infected cell and its subsequent penetration. & Nbsp; Nanobodies block the receptor-binding domain of the coronavirus and prevent infection.
It is noteworthy that the scientists to create nanobodies immunized three alpacas to produce mini-antibodies against the S protein. After that, blood samples were taken and about a billion different antibodies have been isolated. Then, with the help of bacteriophages, 45 of the most effective molecules were selected. Subsequently, the nanobodies were tested for their effectiveness in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 and preventing the virus from replicating in cells.
In addition, scientists built various structures from of nanobodies. Previously, it had been reported that a doctor in the United States was facing 20 years for fake vaccines.
There was also information that & nbsp; the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine fell to 84% in six months.