A group of scientists led by a biochemist from the Center for Cancer Research in Seattle, Tyler Starr, has discovered an antibody that can fight not only various variations of SARS-CoV-2, but also other coronaviruses. This is written by the journal Nature.
The specialists studied 12 antibodies isolated from people infected with SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-CoV. They attach to a fragment of a viral protein that binds to receptors on human cells. It is called the receptor-binding domain.
Scientists have compiled a list of thousands of mutations in the domains of various variants of COVID-19 and other infections from the sarbecovirus group. It turned out that one of the antibodies (S2H97) was able to attach to the domains of all such pathogens and neutralize them in living cells. This became clear during experiments with hamsters.
The authors of the study noted that a universal antibody is needed, since the infection will mutate further, despite the presence of vaccines. While it is impossible to say that S2H97 can protect against new strains, the discovery of a “super antibody” should prepare humanity for the fight against other mutations of the virus.
According to WHO, 188.1 million cases have been identified worldwide. According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, their number is approaching 189 million. More than four million patients died. The most difficult situation is developing in the United States, India and Brazil.
