Researchers re-engineer red blood cells to trigger immune system against COVID-19 — ScienceDaily
From www.sciencedaily.com
2022-03-11 19:14:24
Excerpt:
Physicists, chemists and immunologists at McMaster University have teamed up to modify red blood cells to transport viral agents which can safely trigger the immune system to protect the body against SARS-CoV-2, creating a promising new vehicle for vaccine delivery.
Developing new strategies and vaccine technologies is critical for controlling the pandemic and preparing for future outbreaks as the coronavirus continues to evolve and mutate, say the researchers.
The new method, described in the journal PLOS ONE, is an entirely unique approach to vaccination. Red blood-cell membranes are embedded with SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, which then form virus-like particles.
“We take red blood cells and remove everything from the inside. We then attach spike proteins to their outside to mimic a corona virus,” explains graduate student Isabella Passos-Gastaldo, a lead author on the paper.
The particles, shown to activate the immune system and produce antibodies in mice, are completely…
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