Question

Alpaca Conventional antibody Alpaca heavy- chain antibody Nanobody/ VH CH1 VH Single domain antibodies are a type of antibody produced naturally by llamas and other camelids, which consist of only a single monomeric heavy chain or light chain but nonetheless can achieve equal binding affinity to antigens as conventional antibodies. A new product, called nanobodies, can be derived from single domain antibodies as depicted in the diagram. While their purpose in these animals is currently unclear, there is large commercial and scientific interest in nanobodies. Why? i. Their smaller size allows them to interact with epitopes that are inaccessible to conventional antibodies, such as the active site of enzymes ii. They lack an Fc region and thus do not induce complement-mediated cytotoxicity as a side-effect of immunotherapy iii. Because they are from llamas, humans will not make an immune response against them. iv. They are less complicated than conventional antibodies, and thus easier (cheaper) to manufacture in cultured cells, like bacteria v. They are smaller than conventional antibodies and can thus more easily penetrate tissues and cells

Answer 1

Human and other mammals, have two antibody chains -- heavy and light -- camelids, like llamas, have an additional single heavy chain antibody variant, known as a nanobody.

Nanobodies are small, stable and easily produced. They are used as alternatives to conventional antibodies for diagnostics and imaging, the scientists said.

All the above points about the nanobodies are correct. (i,ii,iii, iv, v)

They are being used in the latest research for a treatment against covid 19,which is the epidemic arosed in the later half of 2019 and had spread worldwide in the year 2020.