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01 October 2020Two ultra-potent human antibodies could be the solution to the inexorable advance of the coronavirus in the world: S2E12 and S2M11 would be able to neutralize the Sars-CoV-2 virus and treat those affected by Covid-19.



The new American study, in collaboration with some researchers from the Sacco di Milano, was reported by Science Magazine.

The data bodes well considering that at the moment the two antibodies have been found to protect hamsters from the new coronavirus.

The technical details, for those who chew the matter, refer to the analysis of cryoelectronic microscopy which shows how S2E12 and S2M11 are able to block the attack on the Ace2 receptor (the gateway to Sars-Cov-2 in cells) and in particular S2M11 also targets the Spike protein, the hook that the virus uses in its offensive to the organism.

"Our results - comment the authors - pave the way for the implementation of antibody cocktails for prophylaxis or therapy" of Covid-19, "bypassing or limiting the emergence of mutant viral forms".



The

infectious disease specialist Massimo Galli

, head of the infectious diseases department of the il Sacco hospital, made statements to La Stampa.

"Two antibodies from as many donors have been isolated. There are at least two others in the world, but these are two more and given their therapeutic potential they could be reproduced on a large scale," he explained.

It's hard to say whether antibodies or vaccines are more promising.

"For both, the saying 'data first then give them' applies. If the antibodies worked they would be an evolution of plasma therapy because they would use the active ingredient as a cure. The vaccine would be preventive and it is always better to be safe than sorry", he said. commented Galli, who warned about the arrival of the seasonal flu: "It's a big problem. We need to be careful and increase the ability to swab."