The majority of the people can produce neutralising antibodies against the novel coronavirus in severe cases of COVID-19, according to a study that supports the use of combination antibody therapy to prevent and treat the disease.
The researchers noted that neutralising antibodies that specifically target the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein -- which the virus uses to enter human cells -- are thought to be essential for controlling it.
RBD-specific neutralising antibodies have been detected in convalescent patients -- those who have recovered from COVID-19, according to the team, including researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel.
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Some of the recoverees tend to have robust and long-lasting immunity, while others display a waning of their neutralising antibodies, they said.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, used molecular and bioinformatics techniques to compare B-cell responses in eight patients with severe COVID-19 and 10 individuals with mild symptoms, 1.5 months after infection.
B cells of immune sysytem are responsible for mediating the production of antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) directed against invasive pathogens.
The research found that very ill patients showed higher concentrations of RBD-specific antibodies and increased B-cell expansion.
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Among 22 antibodies cloned from two of these patients, six exhibited potent neutralisation against SARS-CoV-2, the researchers said.
"Bioinformatics analysis suggests that most people would be capable of readily producing neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in severe cases of COVID-19," they noted.
Moreover, the study shows that combinations of different types of neutralising antibodies completely blocked the live virus from spreading.
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According to the researchers, these antibody cocktails can be further tested in clinical settings as a useful means to prevent and treat COVID-19.
"Even with a vaccine at our doorstep, arming clinicians with specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics is extremely important," the researchers said.
"Combinations of neutralising antibodies represent a promising approach towards effective and safe treatment of severe COVID-19 cases, especially in the elderly population or chronically ill people, who will not be able to so easily produce these antibodies upon infection or vaccination," they added.
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