Scientists identify antibody that fights all COVID-19 variants, ET HealthWorld

New Delhi: Scientists have discovered an antibody that can fight all known variants of the coronavirus that cause COVID-19, as well as distant variants that infect other animals. SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, uses its spike protein to invade and infect another person, or host. Antibodies produced by the host in response bind to the spike protein to block its action and prevent infection.

Scientists led by scientists from the University of Texas at Austin in the US isolated the antibody “SC27” from plasma taken from four patients. These patients had breakthrough infections, which occur when a vaccinated person becomes infected.

The research results were published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.

In the more than four years since the first case of COVID-19 appeared, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has evolved and acquired certain characteristics that make it resistant to vaccines and treatments.

The authors found that the “SC27” antibody recognized all of these diverse features of the spike proteins in different COVID-19 variants.

“One of the goals of this research, and of vaccinology in general, is to work toward a universal vaccine that can generate antibodies and create an immune response that provides broad protection against a rapidly mutating virus,” said lead author William Voss, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology at the University of Texas.

The authors admitted, however, that “the small number of individuals analyzed may limit the interpretation of the data and leave it unclear how common the SC27-like antibody may be in human populations.”

Scientists used IgG proteomics technology, or “Ig-Seq,” to study hybrid immunity, or antibody response, to infection and vaccination.

“The discovery of SC27 and similar antibodies in the future will help us better protect the population from current and future variants of COVID-19,” said study author Jason Lavinder of the University of Texas.

Scientists also found that hybrid immunity provides better protection against the disease compared to infection or vaccination alone.

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