Scientists have found a “superantbody” capable of neutralizing coronaviruses
American scientists have discovered an antibody that can fight not only various variations of SARS-CoV-2, but also other coronaviruses, according to the journal Nature .
A team of scientists led by a biochemist at the Seattle Cancer Research Center Tyler Starr studied 12 antibodies isolated from people who had undergone various forms of COVID-19. These antibodies attach to a fragment of the viral protein that binds to receptors in the host cells. This protein is called the receptor binding domain.
Researchers have compiled a list of thousands of mutations in the domains of various variants of COVID-19 and other infections from the group of sarbekoviruses. Experts have found that one of the antibodies (S2H97) is capable of attaching to the domains of all such viruses and neutralizing them. Scientists realized this during experiments on hamsters.
As the authors of the study noted, despite the availability of vaccines against coronavirus infection, a universal antibody is necessary because the infection will continue to mutate.
Experts said that while it cannot be argued that S2H97 will be able to protect against new strains, however, the discovery of a “super-antibody” could prepare humanity to fight other mutations of the coronavirus.
According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, the number of recorded cases of COVID-19 is approaching 189 million. Over four million patients have died from the coronavirus. Currently, the most difficult situation is in the United States, India and Brazil.
Over the past day, 25,704 people fell ill with coronavirus in Russia. In Moscow – 5382 cases of infection, in the Moscow region – 2484, in St. Petersburg – 1948.
