Can Llama Antibodies Be Used To Treat COVID-19?
January 19, 2021 at 9:03 p.m.
By Max [email protected]
One of the strangest is using llama antibodies to help cure or prevent influenza and HIV and possibly as a means to neutralize the coronavirus. Llamas like other camelidae (camels, alpacas, vicunas) have antibodies that are unique in structure and well suited for drug discovery.
Antibodies are described as proteins produced by the immune system that can attach to a pathogen and stop it from infecting cells. Antibodies consist primarily of both a light and heavy chain and it is typically the combination of these chains that provide the specificity to bind one individual target.
Antibodies from llamas are unique and are described as nanobodies. They are ideal building blocks for the generation of novel biological drugs with multiple competitive advantages over other therapeutic molecules. Llamas actually produce two types of antibodies: One of those antibodies is similar in size and constitution to human antibodies. But the other is smaller; it is only 25% the size of human antibodies. The llama’s antibody forms a Y, but its arms are much shorter because it doesn’t have any light-chain proteins. This smaller antibody can access the tinier pockets and crevices on the spikes of the coronavirus and make it more effective in neutralizing viruses.
There are at least four in clinical development. The first one, Orthoclone OK73, was approved in 1986 and described as an immunosuppressant drug designed to reduce rejection in patients with organ transplants. It was primarily used to treat acute kidney rejection, but manufacturing was discontinued in 2010 due to the availability of other treatments with similar efficacy and fewer side effects.
Nanobodies can serve as alternates to conventional antibodies as diagnostics, imaging agents and structural biology tools. Llama’s antibodies are also easily manipulated, they can be linked or fused with other antibodies, including human antibodies and remain stable.
Llamas
For those of us not acquainted with these large cuddly animals, llamas, like alpacas and guanacos, are native to the Andes Mountains in South American and they all are herbivores (animals that feed on plants). Both the llama and alpaca are domesticated.
Like other camelidae, llamas have three chambered stomachs. Their top lip is split into two and they can move each part separately. Llamas have long necks and a small head. Camel species, including llamas, live in small groups made up of females and their young and one adult male. There are no living species of the camelidae family living in North America, but the fossil record shows that the family started and evolved there. Llamas have been domesticated about 4,000 to 5,000 years ago from guanacos, a wild species now protected in Chile and Peru.
Llamas are used primarily as pack animals. They are from 5 to 6 feet tall from head to toe. Llamas have two toes on its padded feet and easily grip the rocky surfaces in its mountain habitat.
The animal has long and shaggy fur, varying in color from reddish brown, to white, black, brown or a combination of colors. Llama fur is used to make clothing. Alpacas are also domesticated, and are slightly smaller that llamas.
Unlike the llama, alpacas are not used as pack animals, but its soft and shaggy fur is used to make clothing.
Llamas contribute much more than transportation to the human communities in which they live. Leather is made from their hides, and their wool is crafted into ropes, rugs and fabrics. Some farmers use llamas to guard their sheep. Llamas were sources of meat and wool for the ancient Incans. They can also survive with little water.
One strange feature of llamas is their ability to spit and they do spit on each other from time to time. It is their way of expressing irritation or displeasure with other llamas. They do, however, make good animals for children to train and take care of as they rarely bite or kick. Llamas rarely spit on people and are usually friendly and respectful animals.
Final Thoughts
According to the New York Times, researchers have long turned to llamas for antibody research. Clinicians in Belgium chose one of them to participate in a series of virus studies involving MERS and SARS. Finding that her antibodies staved off those infections, the scientists posited that those same antibodies could also neutralize the virus that causes COVID-19. They were right, and their results were recently published in the journal Cell.
Max Sherman is a medical writer and pharmacist retired from the medical device industry. His new book “Science Snippets” is available from Amazon and other book sellers. It contains a number of previously published columns. He can be reached by email at [email protected].
One of the strangest is using llama antibodies to help cure or prevent influenza and HIV and possibly as a means to neutralize the coronavirus. Llamas like other camelidae (camels, alpacas, vicunas) have antibodies that are unique in structure and well suited for drug discovery.
Antibodies are described as proteins produced by the immune system that can attach to a pathogen and stop it from infecting cells. Antibodies consist primarily of both a light and heavy chain and it is typically the combination of these chains that provide the specificity to bind one individual target.
Antibodies from llamas are unique and are described as nanobodies. They are ideal building blocks for the generation of novel biological drugs with multiple competitive advantages over other therapeutic molecules. Llamas actually produce two types of antibodies: One of those antibodies is similar in size and constitution to human antibodies. But the other is smaller; it is only 25% the size of human antibodies. The llama’s antibody forms a Y, but its arms are much shorter because it doesn’t have any light-chain proteins. This smaller antibody can access the tinier pockets and crevices on the spikes of the coronavirus and make it more effective in neutralizing viruses.
There are at least four in clinical development. The first one, Orthoclone OK73, was approved in 1986 and described as an immunosuppressant drug designed to reduce rejection in patients with organ transplants. It was primarily used to treat acute kidney rejection, but manufacturing was discontinued in 2010 due to the availability of other treatments with similar efficacy and fewer side effects.
Nanobodies can serve as alternates to conventional antibodies as diagnostics, imaging agents and structural biology tools. Llama’s antibodies are also easily manipulated, they can be linked or fused with other antibodies, including human antibodies and remain stable.
Llamas
For those of us not acquainted with these large cuddly animals, llamas, like alpacas and guanacos, are native to the Andes Mountains in South American and they all are herbivores (animals that feed on plants). Both the llama and alpaca are domesticated.
Like other camelidae, llamas have three chambered stomachs. Their top lip is split into two and they can move each part separately. Llamas have long necks and a small head. Camel species, including llamas, live in small groups made up of females and their young and one adult male. There are no living species of the camelidae family living in North America, but the fossil record shows that the family started and evolved there. Llamas have been domesticated about 4,000 to 5,000 years ago from guanacos, a wild species now protected in Chile and Peru.
Llamas are used primarily as pack animals. They are from 5 to 6 feet tall from head to toe. Llamas have two toes on its padded feet and easily grip the rocky surfaces in its mountain habitat.
The animal has long and shaggy fur, varying in color from reddish brown, to white, black, brown or a combination of colors. Llama fur is used to make clothing. Alpacas are also domesticated, and are slightly smaller that llamas.
Unlike the llama, alpacas are not used as pack animals, but its soft and shaggy fur is used to make clothing.
Llamas contribute much more than transportation to the human communities in which they live. Leather is made from their hides, and their wool is crafted into ropes, rugs and fabrics. Some farmers use llamas to guard their sheep. Llamas were sources of meat and wool for the ancient Incans. They can also survive with little water.
One strange feature of llamas is their ability to spit and they do spit on each other from time to time. It is their way of expressing irritation or displeasure with other llamas. They do, however, make good animals for children to train and take care of as they rarely bite or kick. Llamas rarely spit on people and are usually friendly and respectful animals.
Final Thoughts
According to the New York Times, researchers have long turned to llamas for antibody research. Clinicians in Belgium chose one of them to participate in a series of virus studies involving MERS and SARS. Finding that her antibodies staved off those infections, the scientists posited that those same antibodies could also neutralize the virus that causes COVID-19. They were right, and their results were recently published in the journal Cell.
Max Sherman is a medical writer and pharmacist retired from the medical device industry. His new book “Science Snippets” is available from Amazon and other book sellers. It contains a number of previously published columns. He can be reached by email at [email protected].
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