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Manila Bulletin devider World devider New protein developed to neutralize COVID-19 in human kidney

New protein developed to neutralize COVID-19 in human kidney

By Xinhua
Published Feb 3, 2021 09:22 am

   CHICAGO, United States (Xinhua) -- Northwestern Medicine scientists have developed a new protein that acts as a trickster to neutralize the COVID-19 infection in a human kidney organoid, a miniature organ made from stem cells in the lab.

   The protein is a variant of ACE2, angiotensin converting enzyme-2, the receptor the coronavirus uses to enter and infect human cells. The modified protein intercepts the S spike of the coronavirus and fools it into binding to it rather than the real ACE2 receptor in cell membranes.

   The researchers have studied ACE2 for many years as part of a potential treatment for kidney disease. They have bioengineered novel ACE2 variants licensed to Northwestern University (NU) which they believe can be adapted for COVID-19 therapy by intercepting the coronavirus and preventing it from attaching to the natural ACE2 receptor in the membrane of the cell.

   The protein has been tested in the human kidney organoid because rodents are resistant to infection by the coronavirus causing COVID-19.

   The findings are proof of concept that the ACE2 protein will be effective in preventing and treating COVID-19 infection in humans, said lead study author Daniel Batlle, a professor of medicine at NU Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician.

   "While widespread vaccination is the best way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, there will always be a need for therapies for prevention and treatment of people who were not vaccinated or for whom the vaccine was not fully effective," Batlle said.

   In the next steps, the researchers are planning safety studies needed before Investigational New Drug approval for future studies in patients with COVID-19.

   The study was published Monday in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

   Northwestern Medicine is the collaboration between Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and NU Feinberg School of Medicine, which includes research, teaching and patient care.

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