Antibody that blocks infection of coronavirus discovered by scientists

AN antibody which prevents coronavirus from infecting human cells has been discovered by scientists.

Researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, as well as the Erasmus Medical Centre and the company Harbour BioMed (HBM), identified it as a potential method of neutralising Covid-19.

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Scientists have discovered an antibody which prevents coronavirus from infecting human cellsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And while the team’s discovery was made on human cells grown in the laboratory – they are hopeful it will have the same effect on patients.

The breakthrough offers hope of a treatment or even a vaccine for the deadly virus, which has infected more than 3.5 million people worldwide, and led to more than 248,000 deaths.

Study co-lead author Professor Berend-Jan Bosch said the new antibody targets the deadly bug’s infamous ‘spike protein.’

The virus hooks onto a locking point on human cells to insert its genetic material, make multiples copies of itself and spread throughout the body.

This has potential to alter the course of infection in the infected host

Professor Berend-Jan Bosch

Prof Bosch, Research leader at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, said: “Such a neutralising antibody has potential to alter the course of infection in the infected host, support virus clearance or protect an uninfected individual that is exposed to the virus.”

It could lead to a therapy that would be given to somebody immediately after they become infected or exposed.

The antibody binds to an enzyme called ACE2 that acts as the viruses ‘doorway’ to cells.

Covid-19 is an infectious disease triggered by a strain known as Sars-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus).

Virus neutralised

It is spread through small respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing – leading to fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

In tests the monoclonal antibody neutralised Sars-CoV-2 – however, further studies are planned to see if the findings translate to the clinic.

Prof Bosch and his colleagues identified it from 51 cell lines from mice that had been engineered to carry human genes.

When they were exposed to different coronaviruses they produced antibodies to the spike protein.

Only one – named 47D11 – destroyed both Sars-CoV and Sars-CoV-2. It was then turned into a fully human version.

Prof Bosch said: “This cross-neutralising feature of the antibody is very interesting and suggests it may have potential in mitigation of diseases caused by future-emerging related coronaviruses.”

The study, published in Nature Communications, offers potential for “prevention and treatment of Covid-19,” said Prof Bosch.

It builds on almost two decades of work by the same team since the first Sars epidemic of 2002 that killed almost 800 people and infected over 8,000.

Prof Bosch said: “Using this collection of Sars-CoV antibodies we identified an antibody that also neutralises infection of Sars-CoV-2 in cultured cells.”

Prevention and treatment

The Covid-19 pandemic has spread so rapidly it’s infected more than 3.3 million and claimed almost a quarter of a million lives.

Co-lead author Prof Frank Grosveld, of Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, said: “This discovery provides a strong foundation for additional research to characterise this antibody and begin development as a potential Covid-19 treatment.

“The antibody used in this work is ‘fully human’ – allowing development to proceed more rapidly and reducing the potential for immune-related side effects.”

Conventional therapeutic antibodies are first developed in other species and then must undergo additional work to ‘humanise’ them.
The therapy is being developed by Massachusetts based global tech giant Harbour BioMed.

Founder and chair Dr Jingsong Wang said: “This is groundbreaking research.