Researchers have found, for the first time, an antibody against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), which has been responsible for over 1,300 human infections and over 450 deaths since it was first identified in 2012.
The research team believes the antibody, known as LCA60, can be used to develop a monoclonal antibody against MERS-CoV that could be used to protect against and treat the disease.
The researchers isolated the antibody, from the memory B cells of an infected individual. Testing the antibody in mouse models the researchers found lower levels of the virus in the lungs.
The levels of virus in the lungs were reduced whether the antibody was administered before or after infection.
Original research paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science on July 27, 2015.
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