Move Over, mRNA Vaccines, Here Comes Llama Nanobodies!

"These are among the most effective SARS=CoV-2 neutralizing agents we  have ever tested at PHE [Public Health England]."

"We believe the unique structure and strength of the nanobodies contribute to their significant potential for both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and look forward to working collaboratively to press this work into clinical studies."

Miles Carroll, deputy director, National Infection Service, Public Health England

"Nanobodies have a number of advantages over human antibodies."

"They are cheaper to produce and can be delivered directly to the airways through a nebulizer or nasal spray, so can be self-administered at home rather than needing an injection."

Ray Owens, Rosalind Franklin Institute, Oxfordshire, Great Britain

Llamas and other camelid mammals naturally produce tiny nanobodies against infections. Scientists are testing whether these small, stable antibodies might be an effective treatment against COVID-19. (Image by Shutterstock/Roger de la Harpe.)

 

Scientists at Public Health England discovered that nanobodies -- a smaller, simple form of antibody generated by llamas and camels -- can target with great effect the virus that causes COVID-19, to the extent that the coronavirus treatment they have devised produced from llama antibodies represents one of the most effective tested ever at the National Infection Service, PHE. The nanobodies were generated by injecting a portion of the spike protein at the University of Reading, into a llama research subject.

 

The llama's immune system quickly responded to protect the animal against the virus, and the llama as a result failed to become ill with the virus. Its production of nanobodies had the researchers extract them through blood samples. Laboratory tests then found the use of nanobodies in treatment reduced the severity of the disease dramatically in infected hamsters. Three nanobody chains were successful in neutralizing both the original variants of the COVID virus and the alpha variant.

The study also found that a fourth chain succeeded in neutralizing the beta variant, laying at rest the scientists' apprehension that the strain might have avoided the antibodies produced through vaccination. During the pandemic, extracted human antibodies had been in use with serious cases, requiring in-hospital injections. The nanobody treatment extracted from llamas, however can be administered through use of a nasal spray.The research results were published in the journal Nature Communication.

 

Llamas, alpacas and other camelids produce a special kind of antibody called nanobodies, which may be used to treat and prevent the spread of COVID-19. image via Peakpx

"This is thousands of times better than the current technology, specifically in its selecting properties. We want nanobodies that bind tightly to SARS-CoV-2, and with this method we can get a drug-quality nanobody that is up to 10,000 times more potent."

"With this method we can discover thousands of distinct, ultrahigh-affinity nanobodies for specific antigen binding."

"These nanobodies may or may not provide a treatment for COVID-19, but the technology used to isolate them will be important in the future."

Yi Shi, professor of cell biology, University of Pittsburgh