Antibodies taken from the blood of llamas and engineered to target SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19, could offer a future treatment against the disease. Llamas, as well as camels and alpacas, naturally produce very small antibodies, called nanobodies, which are dwarfed by those made by human immune systems. Lab-based experiments found these naturally-occurring antibodies … Read more
Coronavirus herd immunity may be ‘unachievable’: Only 5% of people in Spain developed antibodies three months after the pandemic peaked, study suggests Researchers looked at blood test results of a nationwide sample of more than 61,000 participants in Spain Around 5% of people were previously infected with and have built up antibodies against the coronavirus In Madrid, seroprevalence … Read more
Blood samples taken from New Yorkers reveal some had coronavirus antibodies in late February – more than a week BEFORE the first case in the state was announced Researchers looked at 5,500 blood samples taken from patients at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City starting the week ending in February 9 Coronavirus antibodies were detected … Read more
Tiny antibodies found in ALPACAS could help suppress a second wave of coronavirus and allow countries to safely lift lockdown, researchers claim Scientists in Sweden and South Africa have used ‘nanobodies’ from an alpaca The experts have claimed that their research ‘potently neutralises the virus’ The small antibody targets the spikes of the virus which … Read more
Men make more Covid-19 antibodies than women and are better plasma donors, a study has revealed today. Coronavirus survivors are being urged to donate blood as part of a major NHS trial assessing whether it could help some of the sickest patients. NHS statistics show around 43 per cent of male donors had blood rich enough in … Read more
Sweden’s loose approach to lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in fewer Swedes developing antibodies to the virus than anticipated, a study found. Sweden has opted for a more liberal strategy during the pandemic as much of Europe hunkered down behind closed doors. Keeping most schools, restaurants, bars and businesses open the country adopted … Read more
American Red Cross to start testing all blood, plasma and platelet donations for coronavirus antibodies ‘to give donors peace of mind’ On Monday, the Red Cross announced it will be testing all donated blood, plasma and platelet for coronavirus antibodies The test will not determine if someone is currently infected but if they were infected … Read more
Super-potent antibodies taken from the blood of Covid-19 survivors could protect animals from being struck down badly, a study has found. Experts discovered extremely strong antibodies which prevented hamsters getting severely unwell with the disease, when exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Academics at Scripps Research, in San Diego, say the antibodies can be cloned in … Read more
Italy nears ‘herd immunity’: More than HALF of residents’ in province worst-hit by coronavirus have antibodies amid ongoing debate over what protection they provide More than half residents in Italy’s province, Bergamo have COVID-19 antibodies 57% had antibodies indicating they had come into contact with the coronavirus Health authorities in Bergamo said the results were … Read more
Only 10 per cent of people who are infected with the coronavirus develop antibodies, a professor claims. Professor Karol Sikora, an advisor to the World Health Organisation, said the majority would have a negative result on an antibody test, even though they have had the coronavirus. Governments have pinned their hopes on antibody testing to … Read more