HIV – a virus that infects cells of the immune system. Millions of people around the world die each year from HIV and AIDS. For many years, scientists have been trying to invent a vaccine against HIV. However, experts do not despair and do not get tired of looking for new ways to prevent this disease. This time, the exotic property of one animal gave new hope that all their efforts were not in vain.
Scientists are interested in llamas, cute animals from the camel family. The indigenous people of South America have long used them as cargo carriers. Modern experts believe that llamas can be very useful for medicine.
Specialists at University College London have noticed that after llamas are injected with one of the already existing, but ineffective HIV vaccines, the animals begin to produce antibodies that can destroy the virus that causes AIDS.
Human antibodies lack the ability to effectively block HIV activity due to their size, as they consist of two protein molecules. The body of the llama produces antibodies consisting of a single protein molecule, which makes it possible to successfully attach to the virus due to its compact size.
Lamas are the first animals in whose bodies such unique antibodies were found.
The authors of the study are confident that their discovery can significantly accelerate the development of effective vaccines against HIV, which will be based on the antibodies of exotic llamas, modified using genetic engineering methods.
Laboratory studies were successful, during which scientists were able to destroy human immunodeficiency viruses belonging to 60 different strains with antibodies from the blood of llamas.
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