Researchers at the University of British Columbiahave discovered what they call a "weakness" in the virus that causes COVID-19.
Researchers have exploited that weakness into new treatments that are effective against all strains of the disease that has killed about 6.5 million people worldwide over two years. said it could pave the way for in front.
Senior author of the study, Dr. Sriram Subramaniam, professor of medicine at UBC, said the team had studied the virus at the atomic level and discovered weak spots . and have identified an antibody fragment that can attach to it. Variants containing the proliferating Omicron subvariant.
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Antibodies attach like locks to fight viruses, and become ineffective when viruses mutate rapidly. weak spots are constant in all seven major variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, making it a "master key" that allows one antibody to overcome widespread mutation. ” function.
Subramaniam notes that the weak spots spots and master keys identified in this study may be effective against current or future variants of the "therapeutic It unlocks a whole new realm of possibilities." The virus that causes COVID-19.
This Canadian Press report was first published on August 18, 2022.
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