"Contribution to the common fight": Russian virologists - on the discovery of a "universal" antibody against coronavirus

To effectively treat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, different types of antibodies are needed, and not one “universal” one. This opinion was expressed in an interview with RT by the head of the MIPT genomic engineering laboratory, Pavel Volchkov. In turn, Andrei Vasin, director of the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, did not rule out the possibility that one antibody could destroy both already known and emerging strains. So virologists commented on the recent report on the discovery by American scientists of the SARS2-38 antibody, which can neutralize various mutations of the coronavirus. At the same time, experts emphasize that a whole range of measures is needed to combat the pandemic.

- Recently

, a study was published

in the medical journal

Immunity
American scientists who reported the discovery of an antibody capable of neutralizing all known strains of coronavirus.
They named it
SARS
2-38.
How was it discovered and what is it?

Pavel Volchkov:

Scientists took the RBD domain (the receptor that binds coronavirus to the cell. -

) SARS-CoV-2 and injected it into mice.

They then isolated B cells that produce antibodies to this domain.

As a result, they found one antibody that can neutralize almost all known strains.

- Is it possible that this antibody is capable of destroying not only known strains of coronavirus, but also newly emerging ones?

Andrey Vasin:

There really is such a possibility. The work showed that this antibody in cell cultures and in an animal model of infection neutralizes the current variants of the coronavirus: "alpha", "beta", "gamma" and "delta". And it can be assumed that some new variants that will appear can also be neutralized by this antibody. But this cannot be 100% asserted, because new mutations are unpredictable. Only time will tell how effective the antibody will be against new strains.

PV:

American scientists had a limited number of strains that were neutralized by the antibody.

This does not mean that it neutralizes everything.

Many strains evolve in patients, and if these antibodies are used in practice, new strains will immediately appear, since the virus is plastic.

When only one specific antibody is used to fight a virus, the virus usually wins.

Antibodies attack SARS-CoV-2
Gettyimages.ru
© CHRISTOPH BURGSTEDT / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

- How does this “universal” antibody differ from the already known ones?

AV:

Its peculiarity is that it specifically binds to a conserved fragment of the S-protein.

This means that mutations in this region of the S-protein occur much less frequently than in other most variable regions, to which most of the virus-neutralizing antibodies are directed.

- Can we say that thanks to this antibody a universal vaccine will be developed?

AV: The

discovery of a "universal" antibody by American scientists from the University of Washington is a step towards the development of such vaccines.

Since such antibodies are produced under experimental conditions, the creation of a vaccine that would preferentially stimulate the formation of such antibodies is possible.

P.V .:

Soon this antibody will become ineffective, as the virus mutates rapidly.

It should be noted that one antibody cannot be used to treat viruses, especially RNA viruses, which include SARS-CoV-2.

There should always be many antibodies and various inhibitors (substances that retard the course of processes. -

Otherwise, the virus quickly bypasses the action of the drug.

- Is it just an American development, or is the discovered "universal" antibody now available to Russian

scientists
?

AV:

For scientific research, this development is available to the whole world.

However, there may be difficulties with a patent.

Most likely, it has already been obtained by scientists, and then the developers will have the right to use the research for medical purposes.

Gettyimages.ru
© Adam Gault

- Is there a possibility that such antibodies have already been formed in some part of the population of our planet?

PV:

Each person generates not one monoclonal (produced by immune cells -

) antibody, but many.

And many will neutralize the mutations of the coronavirus, some to a greater extent, some to a lesser extent.

This can happen, for example, when a vaccine given to a person who has had the Wuhan strain can kill the delta virus.

It is highly likely that a significant proportion of people, it is not yet known which, will develop antibodies in the future that are able to effectively neutralize all currently existing strains.

AV:

Theoretically, yes.

Since such an antibody has been identified under experimental conditions, then, probably, it can form naturally.

However, it is not widespread and certainly not dominant.

A certain percentage of the population in the repertoire of antibodies that have arisen as a result of vaccination or naturally, such an antibody may be present.

- Can the detection of this antibody and further development of a drug based on it stop the pandemic?

AV:

The development of a vaccine that stimulates the formation of such or similar antibodies is a long way to go. In addition, the experiment was carried out on animals, and how this antibody will work in humans is still unknown. However, such developments are a contribution to the overall fight against coronavirus. Unfortunately, one drug will not be able to stop the pandemic. A whole range of measures is required, including the creation of vaccines and drugs, anti-epidemic measures, and so on.

"Contribution to the common fight": Russian virologists - on the discovery of a "universal" antibody against coronavirus

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