Researchers find antibody that targets Omicron and other Corona variants
Corona cases have once again started increasing in the whole world including India. In many states of the country, the cases of corona have increased rapidly. Experts have asked people to wear masks, get vaccinated and follow Covid-appropriate behavior. Meanwhile, scientists in the US have discovered an antibody that prevents the spread of all important variants of the virus that causes Covid-19, including Omicron. This discovery can lead to more powerful vaccines and new antibody-based treatments.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, senior author Dr. Patrick Wilson of Weill Cornell Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and colleagues tested antibodies from patients’ blood samples against serial versions of the virus that emerged during the pandemic.
One of these proteins is S728-1157. It proved to be very effective in neutralizing not only the old variants but also the seven sub-variants of Omicron. The team also included researchers from Scripps Research and the University of Chicago.
Dr. Wilson said, the pandemic is coming to an end, but the virus will be there for a long time. If it is not controlled well then it can cause annual epidemic. He said, this antibody and the insights it provides can help us avoid the annual surge in cases of Covid-19 or any other coronovirus epidemic.
What came out in the test
Dr. Wilson’s team analyzed antibody-producing cells that clung to the virus’s spike protein, which it uses to enter human cells. Another research author, Dr. Siriruk Changrob, tested the antibodies found against 12 variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the original variant of the virus. An antibody known as S728-1157 can compete with Omicron.
The results suggest that S728-1157 may form the basis of a much-needed alternative to traditional antibody-based therapies. The research said the research could also guide the design of new vaccines, which rely on the spike protein, to further enhance antibodies.
