SciTechDaily: Mini Antibodies Produced by a Llama and Isolated by Neuroscientists Could Prevent COV

[SheltieLover]

https://scitechdaily.com/mini-antibodies-produced-by-a-llama-and-isolated-by-neuroscientists-could-prevent-covid-19-infection/

By NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE DECEMBER 22, 2020

NIH scientists showed that nanobodies isolated from a llama may prevent COVID-19 infections. Infections happen when SARS-CoV-2 virus spike proteins (yellow) latch onto ACE2 receptors (blue) that line the outside of a cell. The NIH nanobodies (grey) may prevent infections by covering spike proteins, which blocks binding to the ACE2 receptor. Credit: Courtesy of Brody lab, NIH/NINDS

Preliminary results suggest anti-COVID19 nanobodies may be effective at preventing and diagnosing infections.

National Institutes of Health researchers have isolated a set of promising, tiny antibodies, or “nanobodies,” against SARS-CoV-2 that were produced by a llama named Cormac. Preliminary results published in Scientific Reports suggest that at least one of these nanobodies, called NIH-CoVnb-112, could prevent infections and detect virus particles by grabbing hold of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. In addition, the nanobody appeared to work equally well in either liquid or aerosol form, suggesting it could remain effective after inhalation. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.

Much more at link. Hats off to Mother Nature and these exceptionally brilliant scientists!

[wnylib]

1. How long before testing, approval,

manufacture, and dispersal?

[SheltieLover]

8. Hopefully soon!

🤞🤞🤞

[DrToast]

2. Way to go Cormac

[wryter2000]

7. And he's pretty, too

[SheltieLover]

9. Magnificent creature!

Ty for the pix, DrToast!

[nuxvomica]

23. Llamas always look like they know they're better than you

And it's without judgment or derision, like they just know they are and that's that.

[OhNo-Really]

3. A Covid shield. This is brilliant

[SheltieLover]

10. Sounds better to me

Than being juiced with a (tiny) petrol derivative (PEG).

[wnylib]

14. That's what I was thinking, too.

I'm a bit anxious about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines because of the allergic reactions and my multiple allergies, including a couple that cause anaphylactic reactions.

But, then, I also have some animal allergies. I have, however, worn llama and alpaca wool sweaters without problems.

[SheltieLover]

16. They think it's the PGE

https://www.livescience.com/allergies-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine.html

If they needed a lipid, I wonder why they didn't use olive oil? (I'm so far from a medical pro, it's not funny, so there may be great reasons.) Seems to me something non-petrol-based & chemically further from anti-freeze would be safer, but that's just my take on this.

Here is link:

https://www.livescience.com/allergies-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine.html

[wnylib]

20. I've read up on the PEG component.

I'm no biochemist, so I don't know why they needed a lipid, let alone PEG. But PEG is apparently a component of many products, including cosmetics and some processed foods. Prior exposure to a substance is necessary to develop an allergic response to it. A mild allergy to it in every day form can become a major reaction if injected directly into the body.

I haven't had any reactions to PEG that I know of, so I think I should be OK with the vaccine. But there are already a number of vaccines that I can't take because they use eggs or an animal serum. So I am always a bit wary out of habit.

The kind of reaction to the vaccine that they are describing is not just sneezing or itchy eyes. It is a life threatening systemic reaction that can kill within 30 minutes of exposure. I have had that kind of reaction - anaphylaxis - twice from different substances each time. It is very scary.

[SheltieLover]

21. Omg!

If you get vaccine, please make sure you get it at a hospital & caution them if your history. They should observe you for a whole to nake sure you are safe!

[wnylib]

22. A hospital would probably

not keep me for more than 15 minutes to an hour after vaccination, especially in these times and in the only hospital in my town. The treatment for this kind of reaction is epinephrine shots. To take the vaccination, I'd just go to my primary care office and remind them of my allergy history. Just in case of a delayed reaction, I might insist on having an epi pen, which contains a shot of epinephrine. I don't have one now because my 2 previous anaphylactic shock reactions occurred in a medical setting that would not normally happen in everyday life.

I've also learned from experience that most general practitioners know little about allergies so I've had to learn more about them myself from necessity. I will be careful.

Happy Holidays.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. PEG Is Naturally Occurring In Many Fruits & Vegetables

Apples, tomatoes, red peppers, beets, cherrys, and many others. Most commonly red varieties.
It's is very easily metabolized in the body by the probiotics in the digestive system and blood enzymes.
There's an ether linkage every 2 cabins, so it is easily broken down to CO2 & water in a very slow version of what we might consider combustion or pyrolysis.
It's not a sensitizing agent, but as to allergies, it's hard to predict someone being susceptible to a negative reaction. The permutations of body chemistry differences are too vast.
But, PEG is not an inherently dangerous material.

[wnylib]

26. "PEG is not an inherently dangerous material."

Neither are maple and poplar trees, lawns, marigolds, and various fruits and vegetables. And yet, my body has allergic reactions to them, sometimes life threatening reactions.

That is the essence of an allergy definition - a physical reaction to ordinarily harmless and natural substances.

"It (PEG) is not a sensitizing agent...."

For people with hyperactive immune systems, the limit on what can become a "sensitizing agent" is whatever their immune system ID's as dangerously foreign. Since PEG is a common substance in nature, the possibility for cross reactions exists.

For example, one of my anaphylaxis producing allergens is aspirin. Aspirin (salicylic acid) was originally derived from willow bark, although it is synthetically produced today. Willow is one of my allergies. The chemical similarity between the natural and synthetic product is enough to trigger a cross reactive allergic response. For the same reason, I can also get cross reactions to other NSAIDS (Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) like Ibuprofen. Fortunately for me, there is Tylenol (acetominiphen), which is not related to the other drugs

There is also such a thing as a non allergic, irritating reaction to aspirin. I have encountered misinformed or arrogant (sometimes both) doctors who assume that my allergy to aspirin is "only a sensitivity" and not a "true allergy" on the basis that true allergy to aspirin is less common. The last doctor to do that was a surgeon who, in spite of my warning, used a cross-reacting med in oral surgery. After I got home, the swelling in my tongue and throat was so severe that I could not speak to call for help. I had to go in person directly to a med office and motion for help.

BTW, that surgeon's specialty was allergies.

Since then, my printed list of allergies for med offices has a notation next to aspirin which says "True allergy, causes anaphylaxis. The next doctor to ignore this warning will get sued the f--k out of business."

I suppose you meant the list of foods in your post to be reassuring, but I recognize a couple that I am allergic to. So thanks for the heads up on a possible cross reaction for me.

[ProfessorGAC]

27. I Was Being Literal

The classification of hazardous substances is very highly defined.
There's no way, however, for toxicologists to accurately predict allergic reactions to every substance, given the sheer volume & unpredictability of body chemistry, person to person.
A sensitizing agent has a specific definition the PEG doesn't fit. That does not preclude allergies, though.
Sensitizing agents are those that cause a reaction in everybody, given a high enough concentration. Very different than an allergy. Also, if one reaches the point of reaction, the tolerance to it falls. So, next time it takes less to trigger a reaction. Next time, less than that. And, so on. Hence the name.
As I stated PEG is not inherently dangerous, but that's for the vast bulk of the population, not every single human being.
This is from The International Journal of Toxicology.

Download PDF
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs)-6,-8,-32,-75,-150,-14M,-20M
First Published September 1, 1993 Research Article
https://doi.org/10.3109/10915819309141598
Article information
Free Access
Abstract
PEGs-6,-8,-32,-75,-150,-14M, and 20M are polymers of ethylene oxide used as humectants, solvents, binders, emulsion stabilizers, and viscosity-increasing agents in cosmetics. In metabolism studies with rats, rabbits, dogs, and humans, the lower molecular weight PEGs were absorbed by the digestive track and excreted in the urine and feces.

PEGs have low oral and dermal toxicity, and are not irritating to the skin of rabbits or guinea pigs; PEG-75 was not a sensitizer. PEGs caused mild, transient ocular irritation in rabbits. PEG-8 was negative in the Chinese hamster ovary cell mutation test, the sister chromatid exchange test, and the unscheduled DNA synthesis assay. PEG-150 was not mutagenic in the mouse TK+/TK-/- forward mutation assay.

PEG-8 was not carcinogenic when administered orally, intraperitoneally, or subcutaneously to various test animals. No adverse reproductive effects occurred during subchronic and chronic oral toxicity studies of PEG-6–32 and PEG-75. In clinical studies, PEG-8, PEG-6–32, and PEG-75 were not sensitizers.

On the basis of the individual and combined data on PEGs-6,-8,-32,-75,-150,-14M, and-20M, it is concluded that these ingredients are safe for use at the concentrations reflected in the Cosmetic Use section and in the product formulation safety test data included in this report. However, cosmetic formulations containing these PEGs should not be used on damaged skin.

No IDLH classification, no mutagenicity, no carcinogenicity, no teratogenicity, no sensitizing properties.
But, if you're allergic to it, you're allergic to it. Avoiding it, as you do, is the only practical option.
The vast majority of us have little to be worried about. It's a shame you have to worry about it.

[wnylib]

33. Well that's an understatement,

to say that it's a shame that I have to worry about it. It puts me between a rock and a hard place to choose between covid or a possible anaphylactic reaction to the vaccine. Because of my age, asthma, and an autoimmune disorder (not uncommon for people with multiple allergies), I am a high risk for a covid.

I'm not sure why you brought up toxic sensitivities in your first post since my earlier posts were about a potential allergic reaction, e.g. the two in Britain and a couple in the US, and not about toxicity. Toxicity I don't worry about, since I know meds are tested before getting approval. But the reactions in Britain were definitely allergic ones, not a toxicity, since they were treated with epi pens. Based on those, the manufacturer and doctors have advised people with prior extreme allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to be cautious about the vaccines.

The problem for people who have allergies is that if they have had anaphylactic reactions before, especially to more than one substance, they know that the possibility exists when an injection contains a substance that is common enough, like PEG, that they have already been exposed to it a number of times.

For example, you mentioned the presence of PEG in tomatoes. I am very allergic to fresh tomatoes, but can easily tolerate cooked ones. I learned years ago in a biology course that cooking causes proteins in the tomatoes to become denatured, so that the denatured form slips right past my immune system undetected.

I have both IgE and IgG allergic reactions to inhaled and ingested substances, as well as skin contact reactions, so some are immediate and some are delayed. Ironically, the one thing that most people are allergic to does not affect me at all - poison ivy. Go figure.

I might get the vaccine in a medical office and remain there for 30 minutes in case I have a reaction. I would also request an epi pen in case I get a delayed reaction after leaving the office.

[ProfessorGAC]

34. The Epi Pen Is A Good Idea!

The 30 minute wait also seems wise.
I brought it up mainly because I don't want scads of people having doubts about the vaccine over a straight chain organic compound that is innocuous to the VAST majority of people.
Those, like you, that have rare & specific issues, I completely understand.
But if 99,999 out of every 100k people have little or nothing to worry about, I think the concerns need to be tempered.
In your case, your concerns sure seem well founded.
Last, the bringing up sensitizers was to clarify the literal difference between being sensitive to something and an actual sensitizer.
I am only trying to provide information to perhaps assuage fears of this very new vaccine.

[Wawannabe]

4. Must be Obama Llama

Sorry. Not sorry.

[mjvpi]

5. You can tell by the tan suit

[SheltieLover]

12. Roflmao

[SheltieLover]

11. Love this!

[wnylib]

15. Is your mama a llama?

I hear she kicks ass out of covid.

[Wawannabe]

19. Hahahahaha

In combat boots!

[Ilsa]

31. I thought it was from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

We have llamas near here. They are kept for their wool, I think. If I had one I'd name her Dolly, and her sister Holly, and her brother Jolly.

[Wawannabe]

32. Have a

Holly Jolly Dolly Christmas!!

[wryter2000]

6. Yay, Cormac!

Keep that llama healthy and happy.

Yay, scientists.

[SheltieLover]

13. IKR!

[tblue37]

17. I'd love to know the thought process that even led scientists to identify and test those nanobodies

in a llama.

[SheltieLover]

18. I think it goes bqck to SARS

And demonstrated immunity in these species.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. The Mechanism Described...

...is nearly identical to what's called "capping" in polymer chemistry.
Capping a polymer stops continued growth of molecular weight on polymers not reaction limited by scale. (Polyethylene, for example.)
The chemistry is similar here in that it closes the reactive site on the virus.
Once, those electrons have conformed, no other reaction, absent extreme conditions, can occur.
This is a very interesting finding.
Something we could not have done 20 years ago, as the resolution to characterize those nano agents didn't exist.
Would have been strictly theoretical, but not testable.

[SheltieLover]

28. Ty, Professor

[ProfessorGAC]

30. Chemists Call Them Chain Terminators

Some polymers are self-limiting. Others are not. Those that aren't need to be terminated.
Sort of like what we did to PINO in November.

[SheltieLover]

35. Ty again, Professor

Not sure what this means, but if you believe it, I'm good with it.

[sakabatou]

29. I'm wondering if something like this can be used against other infections