Scientists have developed technology to produce antibodies for treatment COVID-19

American scientists are developing technology to produce highly effective elite antibodies against a new type of coronavirus infection. This is reported by the press service of Rockefeller University. It is noted that one effective method of treating COVID-19 patients is to administer plasma taken from people who have experienced a new coronavirus infection and contain antibodies against SARS-CoV -2 virus, which has developed the immune system of the donor. However, according to scientists, such treatment has a number of disadvantages. A single donor plasma can be used to treat only one or two patients. In addition, according to Rockefeller University studies, antibodies contained in plasma of COVID-19 cells are extremely diverse and not all equally effective. Only 5% of donors in plasma contain the most effective antibodies for treatment of COVID-19, which scientists called elite neutralizers. Researchers have created technology for mass production of such antibodies. For this purpose fluorescent surface viral protein is introduced into blood sample with immune cells. Cells that produce antibodies against the virus take this bait, allowing them to be selected by a detector. These cells are then cloned massively, allowing them to be used as an antibody factory. With this technique, antibodies against HIV have already been developed, which are noted to have successfully suppressed HIV virus reproduction in patients for several months. Rockefeller University believes that creating an antibody-based drug can be much more beneficial than developing a vaccine. It may take much longer than expected to create such a vaccine. Besides, it is not known how older people will react to it. The production of antibodies against SARS-CoV -2 virus at Rockefeller University is planned to be established in just a month. Recall, the news agency reported that about 40 antibodies capable of neutralizing coronavirus of a new type, identified specialists from South Korea.