Breakthrough in corona research? Charité discovers "highly effective" antibodies

The Berlin Charité gives hope for a "passive vaccination" against the coronavirus.

Researchers have discovered "highly effective" antibodies.

• Researchers at the

  Berlin Charité

  have apparently discovered promising

  antibodies

  against the

  coronavirus *

  .

• The antibodies could well be used to protect even sick people.

• Research is currently being carried out on hamsters.

Munich / Berlin - Berlin researchers say they have discovered "highly effective"

against the

.

The scientists from the

and the

are now following the development of a so-called passive vaccination, as the Charité announced on Thursday.

Antibodies could then be administered to provide immediate protection - preventively or even for those who are already ill.

The researchers isolated almost 600 different antibodies from the blood of people who

have survived

.

Particularly effective specimens could then be artificially reproduced.

According to the information, they bind to the virus, preventing it from entering cells and multiplying.

Coronavirus: research on hamsters shows effectiveness

Studies on hamsters showed the effectiveness.

"If the antibodies were administered after an

, the hamsters developed mild symptoms at best," explained the coordinator of the research project,

.

With preventive administration of the antibodies, the animals do not become ill in the first place.

According to the Charité, three of the antibodies identified so far for clinical development are particularly promising.

The researchers work with the company

.

In addition to the treatment of sick people, the precautionary protection of healthy people who have had contact with infected people is a possible application.

Passive vaccination against corona: finished antibodies could be administered

The difference to an active vaccination is that with the

ready-made antibodies are administered that are broken down after a certain time.

As a rule, protection through passive vaccination is less permanent than through active one.

"For this, the effect of a passive vaccination is almost immediately available; with an active vaccination, it has to build up first," it said.

List of rubric lists: © Christophe Gateau / dpa