Llama Antibodies Could Help in Fight Against Coronavirus
2021-08-29
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1Llama antibodies could soon be playing a part in the worldwide fight against COVID-19,
2 if tests being done by a Belgian company live up to their early results.
3Researchers from the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology in Ghent say antibodies taken from a llama named Winter have reduced the spread of coronavirus infections, including variants, in laboratory testing.
4Dominique Tersago is chief medical officer of ExeVir, a company that works with VIB-UGent.
5Tersago described the technology as a possible "game-changer," which means something that has a big, good effect on a situation.
6The technology's aim is to help rather than replace vaccines.
7It could possibly be used to help protect people with weaker immune systems and treat infected people in hospitals.
8Unusually small, llama antibodies are able to attach, or bind, to part of the virus's protein spike.
9Tersago said, "at the moment we're not seeing mutations of a high frequency anywhere near where the binding site is."
10The antibodies also showed "strong neutralization activity" against the highly infectious Delta variant, she added.
11Neutralization means to stop something from being effective or harmful.
12Researchers expect tests in healthy volunteers to be similarly effective.
13The tests began last week in partnership with Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB.
14Along with other llamas and members of the camel family, Winter produces antibodies that are smaller, easier to reproduce and have more uses than those of other mammals, said VIB-UGent group leader Xavier Saelens.
15"Their small size... allows them to reach targets, reach parts of the virus that are difficult to access with conventional antibodies," he said.
16Conventional means common, ordinary or usual.
17The current research follows studies from 2016 into llama antibodies to help deal with the SARS and MERS coronaviruses.
18France's Sanofi paid $4.6 billion for Ablynx, a Ghent-based medical company that does llama antibody research, in 2018.
19Winter, whose antibodies can now be reproduced in the lab, is enjoying retirement in a private art and animal park in Genk.
20I'm John Russell.
1Llama antibodies could soon be playing a part in the worldwide fight against COVID-19, if tests being done by a Belgian company live up to their early results. 2Researchers from the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology in Ghent say antibodies taken from a llama named Winter have reduced the spread of coronavirus infections, including variants, in laboratory testing. 3Dominique Tersago is chief medical officer of ExeVir, a company that works with VIB-UGent. 4Tersago described the technology as a possible "game-changer," which means something that has a big, good effect on a situation. 5The technology's aim is to help rather than replace vaccines. It could possibly be used to help protect people with weaker immune systems and treat infected people in hospitals. 6Unusually small, llama antibodies are able to attach, or bind, to part of the virus's protein spike. Tersago said, "at the moment we're not seeing mutations of a high frequency anywhere near where the binding site is." 7The antibodies also showed "strong neutralization activity" against the highly infectious Delta variant, she added. 8Neutralization means to stop something from being effective or harmful. 9Researchers expect tests in healthy volunteers to be similarly effective. 10The tests began last week in partnership with Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB. 11Along with other llamas and members of the camel family, Winter produces antibodies that are smaller, easier to reproduce and have more uses than those of other mammals, said VIB-UGent group leader Xavier Saelens. 12"Their small size... allows them to reach targets, reach parts of the virus that are difficult to access with conventional antibodies," he said. 13Conventional means common, ordinary or usual. 14The current research follows studies from 2016 into llama antibodies to help deal with the SARS and MERS coronaviruses. France's Sanofi paid $4.6 billion for Ablynx, a Ghent-based medical company that does llama antibody research, in 2018. 15Winter, whose antibodies can now be reproduced in the lab, is enjoying retirement in a private art and animal park in Genk. 16I'm John Russell. 17Clement Rossignol reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 18_____________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20variant - n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind 21immune system- n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections 22spike - n. An area that protrudes from the envelope of some viruses 23mutation - n. biology : a change in the genes of a plant or animal that causes physical characteristics that are different from what is normal 24frequency - n. the number of times that something happens during a particular period 25pharmaceutical - adj. of or relating to the production and sale of drugs and medicine 26mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin 27access - v. to be able to use, enter, or get near (something)