UT-Austin researchers discover llama antibodies can help treat COVID-19

[TexasTowelie]

UT scientists are researching an antibody in llamas that could be used as a therapeutic treatment to combat COVID-19.

The discovery made by researchers in the United States and Belgium was published in the scientific journal Cell on Tuesday. Researchers from UT, the National Institutes of Health and Ghent University in Belgium contributed to the research, according to a UT News release.

“This project begins with an interesting biological quirk llamas have,” said Daniel Wrapp, a co- author on the paper. “They create this interesting class of antibodies, which are called nanobodies.”

Antibodies are proteins the immune system uses to neutralize pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. The nanobodies llamas produce are smaller and more stable than conventional antibodies that humans produce, said Wrapp, a molecular biosciences graduate student fellow.

Read more: https://thedailytexan.com/2020/05/06/ut-austin-researchers-discover-llama-antibodies-can-help-treat-covid-19

[royable]

1. Just watch...the Drumpf admin is going to take over all llama sales...

and funnel the profits to family and friends.

[safeinOhio]

2. If the president wants to run down to Peru to get some,

alpaca his bags for him.

[TexasTowelie]

3. So this is my purpose in life?

Setting up the punch lines on an online political discussion board. I guess things could be worse.

[abqtommy]

4. Didn't you mean to actually comment on your porpoise in life? You don't have to always be a

straight man, Mon!

[COLGATE4]

5. The only problem I see with this approach

is that, once you receive the antibodies you wind up going around spitting on people.