Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have identified a small neutralizing antibody, a so-called nanobody, that has the capacity to block SARS-CoV-2 from entering human cells.
The researchers believe this nanobody has the potential to be developed as an antiviral treatment against COVID-19. The results are published in the journal Nature Communications.
The search for effective nanobodies–which are fragments of antibodies that occur naturally in camelids and can be adapted for humans–began in February when an alpaca was injected with the new coronavirus’ spike protein, which is used to enter our cells.
