Press release
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Preliminary results suggest that anti-COVID19 nanocodies may be effective in preventing and diagnosing infections.
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have isolated a set of tiny antibodies or promising “nanosupples” against SARS-CoV-2 produced by a flame called Cormac. Preliminary results published in Scientific Reports suggest that at least one of these nanoc bodies, called NIH-CoVnb-112, could prevent infections and detect virus particles by taking the SARS-CoV-2 tip proteins. In addition, the nanocosus appeared to function just as well in liquid or aerosol form, suggesting that it could remain effective after inhalation. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.
The study was led by a pair of neuroscientists, Thomas J. “TJ” Esparza, BS, and David L. Brody, MD, Ph.D., who work in a brain imaging lab at the National Institutes of Health. NIH Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (NINDS).
“For years, TJ and I had been testing how to use nanoscopes to improve brain image. When the pandemic broke out, we thought it was a practical situation on deck and we joined the fight, ”said Dr. Brody, who is also a professor at the University of Uniformed Services for the Sciences of Health. author of the study. “We hope that these anti-COVID-19 nanocodies will be very effective and versatile in combating the coronavirus pandemic.”
A nanocos is a special type of antibody produced naturally by the immune system of camelids, a group of animals that includes camels, llamas, and alpacas. On average, these proteins are about one-tenth the weight of most human antibodies. This is because laboratory-isolated nanocodies are essentially floating versions of the tips of the arms of heavy-chain proteins, which form the backbone of a typical human IgG-shaped antibody. These tips play a key role in the defenses of the immune system by recognizing the proteins of viruses, bacteria, and other invaders, also known as antigens.
Because nanocodies are more stable, less expensive to produce, and easier to engineer than typical antibodies, a growing group of researchers, including Mr. Esparza and Dr. Brody, have used them for medical research. For example, a few years ago scientists showed that humanized nanocodies may be more effective in treating an autoimmune form of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a rare blood disorder, than current therapies.
Since the pandemic broke out, several researchers have produced flame nanoscopes against the SARS-CoV-2 tip protein that may be effective in preventing infections. In the current study, the researchers used a slightly different strategy than others to find nanoscopes that can work especially well.
“The SARS-CoV-2 ear protein acts as a key. It does this by opening the door to infections when it binds to a protein called the angiotensin 2 converting enzyme receptor (ACE2), which is found on the surface of some cells, ”said Esparza, who he is also an employee of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine and lead author of the study. “We have developed a method that would isolate nanoc bodies that block infections by covering the teeth of the spike protein that binds and unblocks the ACE2 receptor.”
To do so, the researchers immunized Cormac five times over 28 days with a purified version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. After testing hundreds of nanocodies, they found that Cormac produced 13 nanocodies that could be strong candidates.
Initial experiments suggested that one candidate, named NIH-CoVnb-112, could work very well. Proven studies proved that this nanocosse bound to the ACE2 receptor 2 to 10 times stronger than nanocosms produced by other laboratories. Other experiments suggested that the NIH nanocosus was attached directly to the ACE2 receptor binding portion of the ear protein.
The team then demonstrated that the NIH-CoVnB-112 nanocosus could be effective in preventing coronavirus infections. To mimic the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the researchers genetically mutated a harmless “pseudovirus” so that it could use the ear protein to infect cells that have human ACE2 receptors. The researchers saw that relatively low levels of NIH-CoVnb-112 nanocodies prevented the pseudovirus from infecting these cells in Petri dishes.
Importantly, the researchers showed that the nanocosm was equally effective in preventing infections in Petri dishes when sprayed through the type of nebulizer or inhaler, which is often used to help treat patients with asthma.
“One of the interesting things about nanocodies is that, unlike most common antibodies, they can be aerosolized and inhaled to cover the lungs and airways,” Dr. Brody said.
The team has applied for a patent on the NIH-CoVnB-112 nanocorp.
“While we have a lot more work ahead of us, these results represent a promising first step,” Esparza said. “With the support of the NIH, we are moving quickly to test whether these nanocodies could be safe and effective preventive treatments for COVID-19. Collaborators are also working to find out if they could be used for economical and accurate testing.”
This study was supported by the NIH intramural research programs of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Disorders (NINDS) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); Dr. Brody is an employee of the University of Health Services Uniformed Services. The views expressed herein do not constitute those of the Department of Defense.
NINDS is the leading national funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological diseases.
About the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): NIEHS supports research to understand the effects of the environment on human health and is part of the National Institutes of Health. For more information on NIEHS or environmental health issues, visit https://www.niehs.nih.gov or subscribe to a news list.
Regarding the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
NIH, the country’s medical research agency, includes 27 institutes and centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the leading federal agency that conducts and supports basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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Article
Esparza, TJ et al., High-affinity nanocodies block the interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain with the human angiotensin converting enzyme. Scientific Reports, December 22, 2020 DOI: 10.1038 / s41598-020-79036-0.