Research has suggested that antibodies produced by llamas could be an effective new treatment against Covid-19. In the form of a nasal spray, these tiny antibodies appear to affectively target the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

According to the study which has been reported by Press Association, short chains of the molecules significantly reduced signs of Covid-19 when given to infected animal models.

The chains of molecules can also be produced in large quantities in the laboratory.

The nanobodies neutralise the virus and could provide a cheaper and easier alternative to human antibodies taken from recovered from Covid-19 patients.

Research is still at early stages, but it opens up possibilities for the use of effective nanobody treatments for Covid-19.

Human antibodies have been used for serious cases during the pandemic, but usually need to be administered by infusion through a needle in hospital.

Professor Miles Carroll, deputy director of the National Infection Service, Public Health England (PHE), said: “Although this research is still at an early stage, it opens up significant possibilities for the use of effective nanobody treatments for Covid-19.

“These are among the most effective Sars-CoV-2 neutralising agents we have ever tested at PHE.

“We believe the unique structure and strength of the nanobodies contribute to their significant potential for both the prevention and treatment of Covid-19 and look forward to working collaboratively to progress this work into clinical studies.”

Professor Ray Owens, head of protein production at the Rosalind Franklin Institute and lead author of the research, said: “Nanobodies have a number of advantages over human antibodies.

“They are cheaper to produce and can be delivered directly to the airways through a nebuliser or nasal spray, so can be self-administered at home rather than needing an injection.

“This could have benefits in terms of ease of use by patients but it also gets the treatment directly to the site of infection in the respiratory tract.”

Researchers generated the nanobodies by injecting a portion of the spike protein into a llama called Fifi, who is part of the antibody production facility at the University of Reading.

The spike protein is found on the outside of the virus and is responsible for binding to human cells so it can infect them.

The injections did not make Fifi sick, and they triggered her immune system to fight the virus protein and generate nanobodies against it

While the injections did not make Fifi sick, they triggered her immune system to fight off the virus protein by generating nanobodies against it.

A small blood sample was taken from the llama and the researchers were able to purify four nanobodies capable of binding to the virus.

The nanobodies were then combined together into chains of three to increase their ability to bind to the virus. These were then produced in cells in the laboratory.

The study found that three nanobody chains were able to neutralise both the original variants of the Covid-19 virus and the alpha variant.

A fourth nanobody chain was able to neutralise the beta variant.

When one of the nanobody chains were given to hamsters infected with the virus, the animals showed a marked reduction in disease.

Hamsters that received the nanobody treatment also had a lower viral load in their lungs and airways after seven days than untreated animals.

Researchers say the results are the first step towards developing a new type of treatment against Covid-19, which could prove invaluable as the pandemic continues.

Professor James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, who helped lead the research, said: “Having medications that can treat the virus is still going to be very important, particularly as not all of the world is being vaccinated at the same speed and there remains a risk of new variants capable of bypassing vaccine immunity emerging.”

The research team, which included scientists at the University of Liverpool, University of Oxford and Public Health England, now hope to obtain funding to prepare for clinical studies in humans.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Communication