Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Equal Time: Pitt Makes Breakthrough in Vaccine

There might be some good news on the Covid-19 front. A team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and other universities made a major breakthrough in the fight to develop a vaccine for the virus.  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine announced:




University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists have isolated the smallest biological molecule to date that completely and specifically neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19. This antibody component, which is 10 times smaller than a full-sized antibody, has been used to construct a drug—known as Ab8—for potential use as a therapeutic and prophylactic against SARS-CoV-2.

The researchers report today in the journal Cell that Ab8 is highly effective in preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice and hamsters. Its tiny size not only increases its potential for diffusion in tissues to better neutralize the virus, but also makes it possible to administer the drug by alternative routes, including inhalation. Importantly, it does not bind to human cells—a good sign that it won’t have negative side-effects in people.

Ab8 was evaluated in conjunction with scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, as well as the University of British Columbia and University of Saskatchewan.

“Ab8 not only has potential as therapy for COVID-19, but it also could be used to keep people from getting SARS-CoV-2 infections,” said co-author John Mellors, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Pitt and UPMC. “Antibodies of larger size have worked against other infectious diseases and have been well tolerated, giving us hope that it could be an effective treatment for patients with COVID-19 and for protection of those who have never had the infection and are not immune.” Xianglei Liu of Pitt is also co-lead author.

 The tiny antibody component is the variable, heavy chain (VH) domain of an immunoglobulin, which is a type of antibody found in the blood. It was found by “fishing” in a pool of more than 100 billion potential candidates using the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as bait. Ab8 is created when the VH domain is fused to part of the immunoglobulin tail region, adding the immune functions of a full-size antibody without the bulk.

Like the Pitt and UPMC vaccine candidate PittCoVacc that delivers an immunization through a spiky Band-Aid-like patch and overcomes the need for needles and refrigeration, the researchers are “thinking outside the box” when it comes to how Ab8 could be administered. Its small size might allow it to be given as an inhaled drug or intradermally, rather than intravenously through an IV drip, like most monoclonal antibodies currently in development.

Abound Bio, a newly formed UPMC-backed company, has licensed Ab8 for worldwide development.

Dimiter Dimitrov, senior author of the Cell publication and director of Pitt’s Center for Antibody Therapeutics, was one of the first to discover neutralizing antibodies for the original SARS coronavirus in 2003. In the ensuing years, his team discovered potent antibodies against many other infectious diseases, including those caused by MERS-CoV, dengue, Hendra and Nipah viruses. The antibody against Hendra and Nipah viruses has been evaluated in humans and approved for clinical use on a compassionate basis in Australia.

Clinical trials are testing convalescent plasma—which contains antibodies from people who already had COVID-19 - as a treatment for those battling the infection, but there isn’t enough plasma for those who might need it, and it isn’t proven to work.

That’s why Dimitrov and his team set out to isolate the gene for one or more antibodies that block the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which would allow for mass production. In February, Wei Li, assistant director of Pitt’s Center for Therapeutic Antibodies and co-lead author of the research, began sifting through large libraries of antibody components made using human blood samples and found multiple therapeutic antibody candidates, including Ab8, in record time.

Then a team at UTMB’s Center for Biodefense and Emerging Diseases and Galveston National Laboratory tested Ab8 using live SARS-CoV-2 virus. At very low concentrations, Ab8 completely blocked the virus from entering cells. With those results in hand, a team at UNC tested Ab8 at varying concentrations in mice using a modified version of SARS-CoV-2. Even at the lowest dose, Ab8 decreased by 10-fold the amount of infectious virus in those mice compared to their untreated counterparts. Ab8 also was effective in treating and preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters, as evaluated by scientists the University of Saskatchewan. Researchers at the University of British Columbia uncovered the unique way Ab8 neutralizes the virus so effectively by using sophisticated electron microscopic techniques.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge facing humanity, but biomedical science and human ingenuity are likely to overcome it,” said Mellors, also Distinguished Professor of Medicine, who holds the Endowed Chair for Global Elimination of HIV and AIDS at Pitt. “We hope that the antibodies we have discovered will contribute to that triumph.”

This research was funded by National Institutes of Health grants, as well as UPMC; the Burroughs Wellcome Fund; a Canada Excellence Research Chair Award; Genome BC, Canada; Canadian Institutes for Health Research; and Canadian Foundation for Innovation.
Kingfish note: Fingers crossed.


15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pitt Medical School is where Jonas Salk discovered the Polio Vaccine. So they have history.

Anonymous said...

this may work. unlike the current leading contenders-one whose execs sold off a lot of stock and the other leaving someone with brain damage..

Anonymous said...

So does this mean coronavirus is real and not a hoax? I also noticed the study didn’t mention China. I wonder why?

Anonymous said...

H2P! Panthers lead the way!

Anonymous said...

So this vaccine candidate is still in phase 1 trials?

Anonymous said...

It doesn't sound like they think the effects will be very long lasting. They used the terms "therapeutic" and "prophylactic" rather than vaccine.
Other companies also are working on artificial antibodies. Some were in phase 3 trials but they haven't been in the news lately. The good thing with this is it doesn't require all the extreme vetting of a full vaccine. Here's an article from back in April on the subject.

https://news.yahoo.com/synthetic-antibodies-might-offer-a-quick-coronavirus-treatment-132122036.html


I hope it works, but right now it looks like a full vaccine could come to market just about as quick as this product. What it would be very good for is people who are immunocompromised and might not develop immunity from a vaccine. Artificial antibodies could be just the thing to give them the same level of protection even if it has to be taken frequently until the disease is controlled through vaccine-driven herd immunity.

Anonymous said...

This isn't a vaccine , which promotes one's immune system to make antibodies. This is an actual antibody fragment, which functions like an antibody. Theoretically useful as both treatment and prevention of COVID

Kingfish said...

Got me a phalanx shot for this crap. Works fine.

Anonymous said...

https://www.wlbt.com/2020/09/15/watch-state-health-officer-dr-dobbs-answers-covid-questions/

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/07/17/hhs-begin-distributing-10-billion-additional-funding-hospitals-high-impact-covid-19-areas.html

Jacksun said...

I notice today that North Dakota has climbed in the past few weeks to number one in the nation for new cases per 100,000 population according to WPO. Wonder why that is?

Anonymous said...

8:49- Keyboard WebMD Physician. Likes to post about things he clearly does not understand.

Bravo Sir.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Tate needs to expand our mask initiative even further. Then again it's only WHO and WHAT do they know, right.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/leading-who-scientist-cautions-world-may-not-return-to-normal-until-2022

Anonymous said...

If it happened there, why not here. I'm sure we have expert or twelve out there waiting to help us poor ignorant idiots.

https://www.foxnews.com/health/thousands-north-carolina-residents-incorrectly-told-coronavirus-positive

PittPanther said...

Heh, heh, heh...

Kingfish said...

You're late.



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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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