An international team of researchers has published a study in the prestigious journal Cell to report the successful use of llama antibodies to neutralize coronavirus. They also reported the isolation of an antibody effective against Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and another one that helps the body fight Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). MERS and SARS were the original focus of the project, according to the New York Times, and the team was just concluding its study when the threat of the novel coronavirus became apparent this winter.
Spike proteins are the famed feature of the novel coronavirus that facilitate infection in humans. Llamas produce antibodies that can react and bind to these spike proteins and that do not break down quickly in the body. Researchers cautioned that the use of a therapy derived from llama antibodies as a preventive measure would not last more than two months at most. Clinical trials are being planned to investigate the safety and efficacy of such an intervention.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/science/llama-coronavirus-antibodies.html
https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(20)30494-3.pdf?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2020/05/06/urgent-quest-coronavirus-treatment-involves-door-to-door-blood-collection-llama-named-winter/