Could llamas hold the key to curing Covid-19?

Could llamas cure #COVID19? Llamas produce two types of #antibodies: large ones like our own and small ones that squeeze into smaller spaces.@McLellan_Lab has shown these nanobodies bind to spike proteins on the outside of #coronavirus #SARSCoV2, preventing it from invading cells pic.twitter.com/wXtmMdPIUs

— Pandora Dewan (@DewanPandora) June 12, 2020

Gary Stephens, a professor of pharmacology at the university, revealed that the virus’s biggest advantage when it comes to spreading and infecting hosts may in-fact seal its undoing in the end. Covid-19 proteins have been discovered to contain ‘spike’ glycoprotein: a membrane with sharp protrusions that allows the virus to latch onto receptors in human cells. But in this case, the structure of the Covid-19 cell is prime to snag and then bind to the camelid nanobodies that will set about instantly neutralising the virus. 

Stephens says that next on the agenda is the trial of these nanobodies in ‘small animals and then non-human primates’. If those words instantly incite a feeling of dread as to how these animals are being treated, you can relax. Both institutions we’ve mentioned have been injecting their llamas with individual proteins from the virus cell, and not the whole thing – meaning they’re never infected. Their precious nanobodies are awoken by the presence of a foreign threat, and then they’re extracted in small quantities. From there, the nanobodies are reproduced artificially under laboratory conditions. 

Researchers estimate that human trials will likely take place in a year’s time, and that they will likely be administered through a fine spray to be inhaled. This way the nanobodies can combat the respiratory infection at its source. 

We already had one self-confessed llama lover (not like that) in the office before these revelations, but now I’m definitely joining the club.