AstraZeneca began the search of antibodies directed against COVID-19
Company AstraZeneca has joined forces with the government and the scientific community of Britain to the development of new antibodies that neutralize the coronavirus. Using their own experience and the possibility of new partnerships, the company intends to identify monoclonal antibodies potentially capable of recognizing contact with the virus SARS-CoV-2 and neutralize it to reduce the effects COVID-19.
AstraZeneca scientists are exploring three potential sources of antibodies against the virus SARS-CoV-2: patients recovered from infection COVID-19 immunized humanized mice, and apply laboratory methods, for example, the method of phage display.
Thorn protein of the virus SARS-CoV-2 is the main target of studies to search for potential monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of COVID-19. The challenge is to found the antibody attacked thorn and protein neutralized virus SARS-CoV-2, adversely affecting its ability to infect healthy cells.
AstraZeneca uses its own patented technology of immune cues developed under the aforementioned agreement with DAPRA. It allows you to capture and screening of antibodies from millions of primary b-lymphocytes. The company also uses post-fusional technology, which provides a method of producing a large number of monoclonal antibodies by culture of the hybrid cells formed by the merger of b-lymphocytes and myeloma cells capable of unlimited proliferation.
After authentication, before performing further tests, the monoclonal antibodies are screened for ability to bind with the thorn in protein. AstraZeneca plans to conduct clinical trials in the next 3-5 months.
