A Llama’s Gift
The secret to beating the coronavirus might lie inside a llama, according to a new study.
British scientists recently developed a Covid treatment using llama “nanobodies” that could be administered to humans through a simple nasal spray, the BBC reported.
Nanobodies are a smaller and simpler version of antibodies that llamas and camels produce naturally in response to infection. These types of antibodies can grab onto pathogens that invade organisms and tag them with an immune “red flag.” This then prompts the immune system to respond against the invader.
In their new study, researchers injected a non-infectious viral protein into Fifi the llama in order to stimulate her immune system. Once her immunity kicked in, the team took a sample of Fifi’s blood and picked out the strongest nanobodies – in this case, the ones that closely matched with the viral protein.
They then grew a large quantity of the special nanobodies, which they later used on coronavirus-infected rodents via a nasal spray. The novel treatment caused animals to recover in a matter of days. Public Health England called the treatment one of the “most effective SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing agents.”
Even so, the simple spray needs to be tested in humans to determine its effectiveness. Still, other scientists said the treatment is “very promising nonetheless and the fact it may be cheaper and easier to administer is a plus.”
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