Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Llamas May Hold The Key To COVID-19 Treatment

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The race to find a treatment effective against COVID-19 continues. The medical establishment seeks new vaccines to prevent the illness and effective treatments to slow the disease’s progression in those already infected. Researchers may soon turn Llamas from popular memes to a vital source of life-saving medication. It appears that Llamas contain substances that may provide protection against COVID-19 and other viruses. An effective medication could reduce the worldwide impact of the pandemic.

Approximately 30 years ago, researchers discovered that camelids, a group including llamas, alpacas, and camels, produced nanobodies, also known as single-domain antibodies. Antibodies in humans and other animals include two proteins. Camelids’ nanobodies contain only one protein, producing a much smaller but potentially more effective defense against illness. Their smaller size allows scientists to engineer and bulk produce nanobodies much faster than they can reproduce and engineer regular antibiotic medications.

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