lipflip – A Stanford-led research team has discovered two antibodies that can work together to neutralize all known SARS-CoV-2 variants. While researchers need to conduct further studies, this approach could create more effective and long-lasting treatments for COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 has continuously mutated, making most antibody treatments from the pandemic ineffective. Researchers at Stanford University have developed a strategy to counteract this challenge by using a dual-antibody approach. One antibody acts as an anchor, attaching to a stable region of the virus, while the second antibody blocks its ability to infect cells.
A Potential Breakthrough for Future COVID-19 Treatments
Laboratory testing has shown that this antibody pairing is effective against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and all its variants, including omicron. The findings, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggest that this method could provide long-term protection against viral mutations.
Christopher O. Barnes, the study’s senior author and an assistant professor at Stanford, emphasized the importance of this research in developing treatments that remain effective against future virus mutations. He noted that this innovative approach could help protect people for years to come by resisting viral evolution.
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Antibodies Researchers Identify Stable Target in the Virus
A research team led by Stanford’s Christopher O. Barnes and doctoral candidate Adonis Rubio investigated antibody responses using samples from recovered COVID-19 patients. They identified an antibody that binds to a less frequently mutating region of the virus. Found within the Spike N-terminal domain (NTD).
This region had been largely overlooked because it was not considered directly useful for treatment. However, researchers discovered that when an antibody attaches to this site, it keeps the virus anchored. This mechanism allows a second antibody to bind to the receptor-binding domain (RBD), effectively blocking the virus from infecting human cells.
High Neutralization in Laboratory Tests
The researchers engineered a new class of dual-action, or bispecific, antibodies called CoV2-biRN. In laboratory tests, these antibodies demonstrated strong neutralization against all known SARS-CoV-2 variants. Tests on mice exposed to an omicron variant also showed a significant reduction in viral load in lung tissues.
While researchers still need to conduct clinical trials before making the treatment available for human use, the findings suggest a promising step toward longer-lasting COVID-19 therapies.
Expanding Antibodies Research to Other Viruses
The next phase of research will focus on designing bispecific antibodies capable of targeting all coronaviruses, including those that cause the common cold, MERS, and COVID-19. Scientists also believe this approach could be adapted to combat influenza and HIV.
Barnes emphasized the importance of evolving treatments. Noting that as viruses continue to mutate, antibody therapies must also advance to remain effective. The research received support from institutions such as the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, the National Institutes of Health, and the Pew Biomedical Scholars Program.