'Llamas are the real unicorns': why they could be our secret weapon against coronavirus

Status
Not open for further replies.

Northerner

Admin (Retired)
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
The solution to the coronavirus may have been staring us in the face this whole time, lazily chewing on a carrot. All we need, it seems, is llamas.

A study published last week in the journal Cell found that antibodies in llamas’ blood could offer a defense against the coronavirus. In addition to larger antibodies like ours, llamas have small ones that can sneak into spaces on viral proteins that are too tiny for human antibodies, helping them to fend off the threat. The hope is that the llama antibodies could help protect humans who have not been infected.


'The magic of llamas': furry friends help stressed university students relax

International researchers owe their findings to a llama named Winter, a four-year-old resident of Belgium. Her antibodies had already proven themselves able to fight Sars and Mers, leading researchers to speculate that they could work against the virus behind Covid-19 – and indeed, in cell cultures at least, they were effective against it. Researchers are now working towards clinical trials. “If it works, llama Winter deserves a statue,” Dr Xavier Saelens, a Ghent University virologist and study author, told the New York Times.


:D
 
Looks like the concept of social distancing hasn’t really taken hold in the US. Good idea, making llamas a new permanent host of Covid 19. It is an animal virus, after all.
 
We have a field of llamas in the village. Perhaps they need to rent them out.

Who knew.......
 
Well - those 'walking with Llamas' sessions might suddenly become even more popular!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top