Scientists from Belgium have discovered that antibodies found in the llama's blood can help neutralize the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Researchers at the Vlaams Institute for Biotechnology in Ghent report that camel blood molecules could serve as a useful 'therapy' during an outbreak. These antibodies have proven effective against viruses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the past.
The small size of the antibodies allows them to more effectively target microscopic viruses, according to research.
These amazing properties of antibodies found in the blood of camels (camels, llamas and alpacas) were first discovered at the University of Brussels in 1989. The new data was published in the Sunday Times.
In addition, it turned out that camels are not the only animals that have proven useful in the treatment of coronavirus. Another South Korean study, reported in the journal Cell Host and Microbe, found that ferrets infected with Covid-19 reacted in a similar way to humans.
The study argues that it can be a “useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of [antiviral treatments] and preventive vaccines.”
Researchers in Hong Kong also found that Syrian hamsters had a reaction to Covid-19, which is “very similar to the manifestations of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in humans.”
A study published in the journal Science found that after being infected with the virus, eight hamsters 'lost weight, became lethargic, and developed tousled fur, hunched posture and rapid breathing.'
The University of Oxford is also testing its own vaccine on animals. The new vaccine comes from chimpanzees who are injected with the coronavirus to produce antibodies that can be used to strengthen the human immune system.
The team of scientists is confident that they can create a real defense against the disease that has hit the world. However, public health officials say it will still take a year – 18 months to fully test any potential vaccine, despite human trials already underway.
