Neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus by hyperimmune serum of
llama ( Lama glama) .
Abstract
Since SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China, it has spread rapidly around the
world. Effective vaccines and therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2−induced
disease (coronavirus disease 2019; COVID19) are urgently needed. In
order to assess the immune response to immunization with SARS-CoV-2 and
the ability of the immune serum to neutralize the virus infection, we
immunized a llama ( Lama glama) with the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus,
and tested serum samples with an ELISA assay specific to the SARS-CoV-2,
and viral neutralization by plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT).
An increase in seroreactivity was observed for the immunized llama from
week 4 onward, revealing seroconversion induced by the immunization,
with the highest antibody titers on the 8 th boost. On the reactive
serum sample, we performed Western Blot analysis that confirmed the
positive ELISA findings, and antibodies from immune serum recognized
various viral proteins. The gold standard PRNT showed a visible viral
neutralization corresponding with ELISA results. Thus, our findings
suggest this llama hyperimmune serum as a possible source of
therapeutically antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus infections to
evaluate in further studies.