The llama has provided nanobodies that effectively prevent infection.
Cormac the llama on his farm in Washington. He has proved invaluable in developing coronavirus treatments, but the outcome for other animals involved in research is much less happy. Photograph: Triple J Farms.
Camelids such as camels, llamas and alpacas produce nanobodies, which are similar to human antibodies but much smaller. The right nanobodies, from the right animal, can essentially nestle over the spikes that dot the surface of a coronavirus particle and prevent them from latching on to healthy cells.
Cormac turned out to be the right llama. After he was injected with a harmless pseudovirus five times over the course of a month, a small portion of his blood was taken and his nanobodies isolated.
Cormac produced one nanobody strain, from hundreds analysed, that was found to be effective in preventing infection.
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Read full article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/31/in-the-search-for-covid-protection-cormac-the-extremely-charismatic-llama-may-hold-a-key
