Nasal injection of llama blood: experimental treatment for COVID-19 has proven to be very effective

A COVID-19 drug made from the blood of a llama named Fifi has shown "significant potential" in clinical trials. The edition told in more detail with the BBC.

Photo: Shutterstock

The drug is made from special nanobodies—small, simple versions of antibodies that llamas and camels produce naturally in response to infection.

Once the therapy is tested in humans, the substance could be used as a simple nasal spray to treat and even prevent infection, scientists say.

Professor James Naismith, who is the director and one of the leading researchers at the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxfordshire, explained that the coronavirus-infected rodents treated with the new nasal spray recovered completely within six days.

So far, the experiments have only been conducted on rodents, but the Public Health Organization of England said it is one of the "most effective SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing agents" they have ever tested.

On the subject: The US has developed a nasal spray vaccine against COVID-19: how it works

This effectiveness in the fight against COVID-19 is due to the strength with which nanobodies bind to the virus.

Just like human antibodies, virus-specific nanobodies bind to viruses and bacteria that enter our body. This binding essentially marks the virus as an immune red flag, which allows the body's immune system to target it.

The nanobodies, which the researchers produced using the llama's immune system, bind particularly strongly to the virus.

“This is where Lama Fifi helped,” Professor Naismith explained.

Fifi was vaccinated with a tiny, non-infectious piece of viral protein, thereby stimulating her immune system to produce special molecules. The scientists then carefully selected and purified powerful nanobodies from Fifi's blood sample - those that most closely matched the viral protein.

The team was then able to grow a large number of specially selected powerful molecules.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

“The immune system is so amazing that it works better than anything humans can create—evolution is hard to beat,” Naismith said.

Professor Sheena Krukshenk, an immunologist at the University of Manchester, said the development is considered very promising, but is still in the early stages of testing.

“We need to get more data on efficacy and safety before we move on to human trials,” Cruickshank explained. “At the same time, it is very promising, and also cheap and easy to use, which is a big plus. COVID-19, unfortunately, will be with us for some time, so more drugs will be needed.”

Professor Naismith and his collaborators, who published their research in the journal Nature Communications, agree that even with the success of COVID-19 vaccines, having an effective treatment is essential.

“Not the whole world is getting vaccinated at the same rate,” he said. “And there remains a risk of new variants emerging that could bypass vaccine immunity.”

Read also on ForumDaily:

Vaccination or funeral: North Carolina has a shocking ad for COVID-19 vaccination

From turkey to toilet paper: what's going to disappear from store shelves in America due to scarcity

The US has developed a nasal spray vaccine against COVID-19: how it works

US recommends third COVID-19 vaccine for seniors

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.