Getting Over the Viral Hump

In response to infective agents, Camellids (camels, alpacas and llamas) produce 'cut-down' versions of antibodies. These shorter peptides are termed nanobodies. Workers at the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxfordshire, raised nanobodies in a llama, by injecting her with tiny pieces of purified spike protein from SAR-CoV-2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58628689). When they come into contact with the virus, these nanobodies latch on. This label activates the host's immune system, working to destroy the virus. These nanobodies can be administered in a simple nasal spray. This has been done, thus far, in laboratory mice infected with SARS-CoV-2. The spray appeared to have the potential to treat or even prevent early infection with the virus. Indeed, Public Health England say that the nanobody spray is the most effective SARS-CoV-2 neutralising agent they have tested to date. Nanobody nasal sprays could turn out to be yet another means of protecting humans (and other animals?) from Covid19.