COVID-19 is beginning to show up in animals that have close contact with humans such as pets and zoo captives. Llamas are also susceptible to the disease. Researchers at Reading University, UK have developed a treatment made of nanobodies, a smaller, less complex version of antibodies that camelids produce naturally. In early trials, a therapy derived from a llama named Fifi [photo credit: Reading University] has shown great promise. Once this therapy has been tested in humans, it could be administered in a simple nasal spray.
Rodents infected with SARS-CoV-2 treated with the new nanobody therapy recover fully within six days. The apparent potency of the treatment is due to the affinity of the nanobodies for chemically bonding with the virus. Researchers stimulated Fifi's immune system with non-infectious parts of the viral protein to produce the specific nanobodies for which they were searching. Through an alembic process they were able to isolate those antibodies that matched the viral protein most closely. The strongest "key in the lock" is processed into a spray application. Dr. Naismith lead researcher at Franklin Institute in Oxfordshire told BBC that,"The immune system is so marvellous that it still does better than we can--evolution is hard to beat." You do say doctor? The research is published in Nature Communications