Certain animals are better able to produce these broad-spectrum antibodies, and during their study, the research team identified the structures of the antibodies that provide this more comprehensive immune response, which has implications for vaccine production (Science Translational Medicine, August 10, 2022 ).
Specifically, these neutralizing antibodies recognize a region of the viral spike that is relatively more conserved or present in SARS viruses and is less likely to mutate. In the study, rhesus macaque monkeys were immunized with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and given two vaccines that resembled current mRNA vaccines available for humans. However, unlike humans, macaques have a broad neutralizing antibody response against the virus because their antibodies recognize the conserved region, in this case the binding site of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor.
The majority of human antibodies do not target this region, suggesting that additional strategies to coerce the human immune system to recognize this particular region of the virus will be useful for vaccine production, according to the scientists.
However, the genetics between humans and monkeys differ, so more research is needed not only to identify new strategies against SARS viruses, but also to ensure that the best translational models are used.
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