Some human antibodies may be able to block infection by the Covid-19 virus at the cellular level. This was discovered by researchers from Utrecht University, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam and Harbour BioMed (HBM).
I researchers have published an article in Nature Communications to describe the results of their study, according to which a human antibody could prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus from infecting cells in culture. “This research builds on previous work done by our teams on antibodies targeting the 2002/2003 SARS-CoV, but the results have also been verified for the new coronavirus. We have identified a neutralizing antibody that has the potential to alter the course of infection in the host,” says Berend-Jan Bosch, a professor at Utrecht University. “The characteristics of this antibody are quite interesting, and suggest that it could also mitigate diseases caused by other coronavirus strains.
“Our study provides a solid basis for further research on this antibody, which could potentially be suitable for the treatment of Covid-19,” says Frank Grosveld, second author of the article and professor at the Erasmus Medical Center. “It is a fully human antibody, which could be highly efficient in therapeutic treatment, reducing potential immune-related side effects,” continues the researcher. “This is a revolutionary discovery. It will take work to evaluate whether this antibody can really protect humans, but thanks to the collaboration with our partners, we are confident. We believe that our technology can help address this urgent public health need,” comments Jingsong Wang, founder, president and CEO of HBM.
Article published on May 4, 2020 - 13:07 pm
