Breakthrough in herpes research: Göttingen Nanobody made from alpacas!

Breakthrough in herpes research: Göttingen Nanobody made from alpacas!

In a groundbreaking research project, scientists from Göttingen and Hamburg have developed an innovative approach to preventing herpes infections. A specialized antibody molecule, called a nanobody, has the potential to significantly change treatment strategy. This is a mini-antibody that deactivates a protein that is essential for viral infection. This could make effective prevention against herpes infections possible in the future, which would particularly benefit vulnerable groups such as newborns and people with weakened immune systems, as Nachrichten IDW reports.

The researchers work at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Natural Sciences, the Leibniz Institute for Virology, the University of Hamburg and the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf. Their studies focused on the glycoprotein B (gB) of the herpes virus, which is of central importance for its ability to infect. Using state-of-the-art techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy, the structure of the gB glycoprotein was decoded and the mechanism by which the nanobody neutralizes gB was examined in detail. This means that scientists are now on the threshold of new treatment methods that can also have a prophylactic effect, since existing medications often only help with active infections, according to [Göttinger Tageblatt].

Power of nanobodies

The discovery is based on immunizing an alpaca with a gB preparation, which resulted in over a billion nanobodies being produced in the animal's blood. The gB-specific nanobodies were specifically isolated from these, with a particularly powerful nanobody being identified that is effective against both the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). According to Nature, the research offers new perspectives on the treatment and prevention of serious herpes infections.

The alarm bells are ringing: Over 40 million people worldwide become infected with the herpes virus every year, and a large number of those affected suffer from the noticeable consequences. The common herpes viruses are underestimated because they remain in the body for life and can be reactivated when the immune system is weakened. Currently, about 60% of the population is infected with HSV-1, while 20% suffer from genital herpes caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2.

The way to the clinic

The international team plans to clinically test the nanobodies soon. A patent application has already been filed for this. Taking into account the crucial results of the research, this could not only revolutionize the treatment of herpes infections, but also contribute to the long-term prevention of viral outbreaks.

With this important discovery, the researchers are setting an example in the race against the virus. The innovative use of nanobodies, which can be more easily isolated and produced in the laboratory, opens up new possibilities for combating herpes and could represent a valuable advance, particularly for people at risk.