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Scientists discover antibody that can block coronavirus

8 || risingbd.com

Published: 01:36, 6 May 2020   Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020
Scientists discover antibody that can block coronavirus

Scientists have discovered an antibody which prevents coronavirus from infecting human cells.

Researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, as well as the Erasmus Medical Centre and the company Harbour BioMed (HBM), identified it as a potential method of neutralising Covid-19.

And while the team's discovery was made on human cells grown in the laboratory - they are hopeful it will have the same effect in patients.

The breakthrough offers hope of a treatment or even a vaccine for the deadly virus, which has infected more than 3.5 million people worldwide, and led to more than 248,000 deaths.

Study co-lead author Professor Berend-Jan Bosch said the new antibody targets the deadly bug's infamous 'spike protein.'

The virus hooks onto a locking point on human cells to insert its genetic material, make multiples copies of itself and spread throughout the body.

Prof Bosch, Research leader at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, said: "Such a neutralising antibody has potential to alter the course of infection in the infected host, support virus clearance or protect an uninfected individual that is exposed to the virus."

It could lead to a therapy that would be given to somebody immediately after they become infected or exposed.

The antibody binds to an enzyme called ACE2 that acts as the viruses 'doorway' to cells.

Covid-19 is an infectious disease triggered by a strain known as Sars-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus).

It is spread through small respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing - leading to fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

In tests the monoclonal antibody neutralised Sars-CoV-2 - however, further studies are planned to see if the findings translate to the clinic.

Prof Bosch and his colleagues identified it from 51 cell lines from mice that had been engineered to carry human genes.

When they were exposed to different coronaviruses they produced antibodies to the spike protein.

 

Dhaka/Mukul

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