A four-year-old llama named Winter may be the key to the world's fight against the deadly novel coronavirus, says a recent article.

Winter was the lucky llama that was chosen by scientists in Belgium to take part in a sequence of research involving MERS and SARS.


Winter's Antibodies

Scientists found that the antibodies of Winter were able to stop MERS and SARS infection. The scientists believe that the antibodies of Winter can also neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. After conducting studies with Winter's antibodies and the novel coronavirus, the scientist found out that they were right. They had published the results of their studies on Tuesday in the journal Cell.


Llamas for Antibody Research

Scientists have been making use of Llama antibodies for research. For example, in the past decade, researchers had made use of the antibodies of llamas on the study of influenza and H.I.V. They were able to identify breakthrough therapies for both.


Human Antibodies

Human bodies produce one kind of antibody, which compose of two types of protein chains, heavy and light, that forms a Y shape. On the other hand, Llamas' bodies produce two kinds of antibodies. One of the antibodies of llamas is similar to the size and construction of the antibodies of humans. However, the second antibody of llamas is smaller. It is only 25 percent of the total size of human antibodies. Also, the llamas' antibodies form a Y shape. However, it has shorter arms because it lacks light-chain proteins.

This small antibody can enter smaller pockets and gaps on spike proteins that human antibodies are incapable of doing. Spike proteins are proteins that help viruses such as the SARS-CoV-2 to enter patients' cells.

The smaller antibodies of llamas are effective at neutralizing viruses such as the novel coronavirus.


They Can Be Easily Manipulated

According to a molecular virologist at Ghent University in Belgium named Doctor Xavier Saelens, the antibodies of llamas can be manipulated easily and that they can be combined with other antibodies such as human antibodies. 

Llama Antibodies on SARS and MERS 

When the researchers injected Winter with the spike protein of the virus that caused MERS and SARS, they were able to identify two llama antibodies that were potent enough to fight MERS and SARS separately.

When the researchers were documenting their findings, the novel coronavirus had started making global headlines at the start of the year.

Then, Doctor Saelens realized that the smaller llama antibodies were able to neutralize SARS could help counteract the novel coronavirus. Based on the results of their research, it was effective at constraining the virus that causes COVID-19.


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Hopeful

The researchers are hopeful that their discovery can be utilized as a preventive treatment against COVID-19 by injecting someone who had not contracted the novel coronavirus in the past. The protection from the treatment is not immediate, and it is not permanent. The treatment is expected to be effective only for one to two months without having additional injections.

A breakthrough with this research is still months away. However, the researchers are now in the stage of conducting clinical trials. Also, more research is necessary to verify the safety of injecting the antibodies of llamas to humans.