The “super-antibodies” against the coronavirus

Antibodies “ultra-powerful” against COVID-19. The promising discovery comes from a team led by the University of Washington, which also included Massimo Galli, Agostino Riva and Arianna Gabrieli from Milan’s Sacco Hospital. The research results were published in the authoritative journal Sciences. For now it is not yet the case to claim victory, but it is certainly a study that could lead to important results in the fight against coronavirus.

The two antibodies can block virus entry cells were tested in hamsters and the second The Republic, they would have knocked out Sars-Cov-2 “by blocking the famous spike (the tip of the crown) that the coronavirus uses to bind to human cells and to the Ace2 receptor that acts as an entry latch. “

“Science Magazine has published the identification of two Sars-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies that are very promising for future developments in the treatment of Covid-19,” Galli, Principal Infectious Disease Specialist at Sacco and State University professor, writes on Twitter. from Milan. “A result to which we have contributed much more here at Sacco, Agostino Riva and Arianna Gabrieli than I have,” emphasizes the specialist. The two antibodies, called S2E12 and S2M11, were found to protect hamsters from the new coronavirus. Cryoelectron microscopy analyzes show that S2E12 and S2M11 block attack on the Ace2 receptor (the gateway to Sars-Cov-2 in cells) and that S2M11 also targets the protein Spike, the hook that the virus uses in its offensive. to the organism. Therapeutic mixtures that include S2M11, S2E12, or the previously identified S309 antibody neutralize a large sample of circulating Sars-Cov-2 isolates, the authors explain.

“Our results – they comment – pave the way for the implementation of antibody cocktails for prophylaxis or therapy” of Covid-19, “avoiding or limiting the appearance of mutant viral forms.”

Scientist Rappuoli: “Very potent antibodies against the virus are being developed”

However, the study of antibodies is the focus of attention of many institutions and universities. Also at work is scientist Rino Rappuoli from Tuscany Life Sciences that today announced that “got very strong antibodies, that are in the industrial development phase and with whom we hope to soon be able to contribute to containing this pandemic ”.

In an article written for the magazine ‘Magistero del Lavoro’, Rappuoli writes that “plasma therapy is one of those that has given promising results. In this therapy, we look for the rare patients cured of the disease who have antibody titers against protein – very high peaks, they are asked to donate blood and then plasma is injected into sick patients. “

“The antibodies from the cured patient thus transferred to the patient neutralize the virus and allow it to heal faster. The therapy appears to work, but is limited in that high-titer plasma is difficult to find and always has the safety risks associated with transfusions. Thanks to the research of many scientists and in particular the Italian scientist Antonio Lanzavecchia, today it is possible to produce human antibodies against viruses and bacteria in large quantities and to use them with total safety ”.