A study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar shows that camels can be a source of therapeutic antibodies to COVID-19, boosting the chances of developing an effective treatment for this and similar viruses in the future. Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, the need for effective treatment for the disease and potential new coronaviruses in the future remains urgent.

A study conducted by Dr. Lotfi Shoshan and his team in Qatar revealed that antibodies produced by camels can be effective in treating COVID-19. The size of the “nanop” antibodies produced by camels allows them to efficiently reach the site of virus tests in the body and eliminate them.

The study revealed that the antibodies produced by camels contain components that reduce the replication of the virus and prevent it from attaching to the target cells. The proposed treatment is to develop engineered antibodies to target the virus, allowing it to be an additional option for treating viruses.

The researchers took camel samples and discovered antibodies to MERS-CoV in all the samples. The research seeks to develop this innovative treatment and test it on rodents before it is advanced to the stages of human application.

The researchers stress that this treatment does not replace existing vaccines aimed at stopping the spread of the virus but can be used as an additional treatment tool. This study is an important step towards developing effective treatments for future viral epidemics.