▲ Corona 19 spike protein (A), SARS neutralizing antibody (B), MERS neutralizing antibody (C)


Domestic researchers have found an antibody against Coronavirus Infection-19 (Corona 19).

The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (CEVI) Fusion Research Group said today (4 days) that SARS and MERS neutralizing antibodies can bind to the corona 19 spike protein.

Spike proteins are proteins that coronaviruses use to invade cells.

When an antigen is injected through a vaccine, the human body forms antibodies in response to an immunization reaction. Among them, antibodies that can neutralize pathogens are called neutralizing antibodies.

After identifying similarities with SARS virus through the Corona 19 genome analysis, the team predicted that the SARS neutralizing antibodies could bind to Corona 19 using bioinformatics.

Analyze the structural information file of the corona 19 spike protein published in the bioarchive website bioRxiv and predicted that two SARS neutralizing antibodies and one MERS neutralizing antibody could bind to the corona 19 spike protein. .

It is expected to contribute to the development of antibodies and vaccines for the treatment of corona19.

The Convergence Research Group also secured Corona 19 virus RNA by culturing a virus isolated from a sample of Corona 19 patients handed over from the Centers for Disease Control on the 17th of last month.

By comparing the sensitivity of primers and probe sets (genetic diagnostic technology) for overseas corona 19 virus detection, '2019-nCOV', 'N2', and 'N3' were used to detect 'Corona 19 virus N gene'. And the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 'NⅡD 2019-nCOV＿N', have been confirmed to have high sensitivity.

For detection of the RdRp / Orf1 gene, the ORFlab primer and probe set from the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was found to be sensitive.

The findings were published in the Bio Archives last month.

"This is the first time we have compared the sensitivity of major primer and probe sets for overseas corona 19 detection," said Dr. Lee.

The CEVI Convergence Research Group is attending eight government-funded research institutes, focusing on chemical chemistry, and is working on new virus diagnosis, vaccine development, treatment, and diffusion prevention technologies.

(Photo: provided by Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Yonhap News)