August 11, 2020 -- Bio-Techne has launched a SARS-CoV-1/2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) LlamaBody recombinant antibody that blocks the virus from binding to the host receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).
The camelid recombinant antibody is commercially available and the first in the company's LlamaBody product line. Camelid antibodies are single-domain antibodies derived from the Camelidae family of mammals, which includes llamas, camels, and alpacas. They contain a single monomeric variable domain with a single antigen receptor site.
Due to their small size, camelid antibodies have a high penetration rate into tissues and can be used to target molecular epitopes that may not be accessible to larger molecules, like traditional antibodies. Along with high rates of thermostability and chemostability, the camelid antibodies are compatible with genetic engineering tools and can be attached to different molecular scaffolds, according to the company.