Llama Cells Could Help Scientists Create a COVID-19 Treatment

Llama Cells Could Help Scientists Create a COVID-19 Treatment

"Llamas, camels and alpacas produce nanobodies, which are cousins of the antibody that are smaller, more stable and easier to produce, according to a statement from the University of Reading. Like human antibodies, nanobodies found in llamas can detect and attach to certain proteins, like the ones that cover the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Antibodies from humans and other animals bind to these spike proteins, blocking them from entering the cell. Because they are smaller, however, nanobodies can bind to little pockets in the protein that larger antibodies might miss. Additionally, nanobodies can maintain their shape in extreme environments, such as the acid-filled stomach, where human antibodies are less stable."


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