Covid 19 vaccine: Researchers find ‘SC’ antibody that can help develop one vaccine for all COVID-19 variants

A team of researchers from The University of Texas, Austin, has identified an antibody, ‘SC27’, that could potentially counteract all known variants of the virus causing COVID-19, as well as distantly related coronaviruses that infect animals. This finding marks a significant advancement in the ongoing efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antibody ‘SC27’ Shows Promise

The research, recently published in Cell Reports Medicine, highlights that ‘SC27’ was isolated from plasma samples donated by four patients who experienced breakthrough infections—cases where vaccinated individuals still contracted the virus. The researchers utilized advanced IgG proteomics technology, known as ‘Ig-Seq’, to study the antibody response generated from both infection and vaccination, referred to as hybrid immunity.

Effective Across Variants

Since the onset of COVID-19 more than four years ago, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has undergone multiple mutations, making it increasingly resistant to existing vaccines and treatments. However, the study’s authors noted that the ‘SC27’ antibody could recognize and neutralize the spike proteins across various COVID-19 variants, offering hope for broader protection.

Lead author William Voss, a PhD graduate in cell and molecular biology at The University of Texas, said, “One goal of this research, and vaccinology in general, is to work toward a universal vaccine that can generate antibodies and create an immune response with broad protection to a rapidly mutating virus.”

Limitations and Future Implications

While the discovery of ‘SC27’ presents a promising avenue for future treatments, the authors cautioned that the small sample size of individuals analyzed may limit the data’s general applicability. “The small number of individuals analysed may limit the interpretation of the data and leave it unclear how common the SC27-like antibody might be in human populations,” the researchers stated.

Jason Lavinder, another author of the study, highlighted the potential of this finding for future research. “The discovery of SC27, and other antibodies like it in the future, will help us better protect the population against current and future COVID-19 variants,” he said.

Hybrid Immunity Offers Enhanced Protection

The research also found that hybrid immunity—immunity generated from both infection and vaccination—provides enhanced protection against the disease compared to infection or vaccination alone. This insight could guide future vaccine development strategies in the ongoing battle against evolving COVID-19 variants.

(Inputs from PTI)