Antibodies that might neutralize Omicron identified by scientists

Published

4 years ago

December 30, 2021

India

Antibodies that might neutralize Omicron identified by scientists

In a recent study, an international team of scientists identified antibodies that can neutralize omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants.

These antibodies target areas of the viral spike protein, which remain essentially unchanged when the virus mutates. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature.

David Veesler said that by identifying the targets of these “broadly neutralizing” antibodies on the spike protein, it is possible to design vaccines and antibody treatments that are effective not only for the omicron variant but also for other variants that may appear in the future. Researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and associate professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.

Also read: As Omicron advances Covid-19 cases, will 2022 be different?

“This discovery tells us that by focusing on antibodies against these highly conserved sites on the spike protein, there is a way to overcome the continuous evolution of the virus,” Wesseler said. Vir Biotechnology, in Switzerland. The lead authors of the study are Elisabetta Cameroni and Christian Saliba (Humabs), John E. Bowen (University of Washington Biochemistry) and Laura Rosen (Vir).

The omicron variant has 37 mutations in the spike protein, which is used to lock and invade cells. This is an unusually large number of mutations. It is believed that these changes partly explain why the variant can spread so quickly, thereby infecting people who have been vaccinated and reinfecting people who were previously infected.

“The main question we are trying to answer is: How does this series of mutations in the spike protein of the omicron variant affect its ability to bind to cells and evade immune system antibody responses,” Veesler said. Veesler and his colleagues speculate that a large number of omicron mutations may have accumulated during long-term infection in people with weakened immune systems, or accumulated during the spread of the virus from humans to animal species and then back. ]

To assess the impact of these mutations, the researchers designed a disabling, non-replicating virus called a pseudovirus, which produces spike proteins on its surface, just like a coronavirus. They then created pseudoviruses with spike proteins with omicron mutations, as well as those found in the earliest variants found in the pandemic.

The researchers first observed how different versions of the spike protein bind to the protein on the cell surface, which the virus uses to attach and enter the cell. This protein is called the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times

Related Topics:antibodies neutralize News omicron scientists

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Amitabh Bachchan: The Heartbreaking Anxiety of Bollywood’s Greatest Icon

Published

6 days ago

June 19, 2026

Digital Post

Amitabh Bachchan: Candid Self-Doubt Confession

Even after five decades of cinematic dominance, Amitabh Bachchan still faces the quiet terrors of the midnight hour. The man who epitomised alpha-masculinity for generations of moviegoers recently made an unexpected confession that shocked his millions of admirers. He continues to have restless nights, locked in a vicious circle of intense self-doubt and crushing work stress.

This revelation is a huge wake-up call for anyone who thinks of him as an invincible acting colossus. It demonstrates that the heavy weight of perfectionism never fully fades, no matter how much celebrity you achieve.

The Haunting Midnight Echoes of Perfectionism

Imagine being a living legend and lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering if your previous performance was a complete failure. Bachchan admitted that he always repeats his sequences in his memory, haunted by the terrible feeling that they “could have been done better.”

This tremendous emotional sensitivity reveals a side of the megastar that the public has rarely seen. Onscreen, we witness the towering demeanour, booming baritone voice, and perfect delivery. But, behind closed doors, he suffers from the same paralysing fear that ordinary people face on a daily basis in the workplace.

Why the Deepest Passion Breeds Internal Chaos

You might ask why a man who has won every major film award is so concerned about delivering a single sentence. True genius is rarely characterised by serenity of mind. For Bachchan, acting is more than a job; it is a sacred, consuming fire that demands flawless excellence every time.

When you care so deeply about your craft, every creative endeavour feels like a high-stakes bet on your entire legacy. This tremendous artistic drive is a two-edged blade that produces amazing art while completely destroying your mental serenity.

The Heavy Price of an Enduring Legacy

Living under the microscope of the public eye for fifty years has a catastrophic psychological impact. Every move Amitabh Bachchan makes is immediately analysed, criticised, or worshipped by countless millions of people.

That amount of tremendous expectation establishes a distinct, invisible prison of performance anxiety. The dreadful anxiety of disappointing his big audience keeps his thoughts racing long after the cameras stop rolling. It turns out that the view from the very top of the mountain is extremely lonely and filled with perpetual emotional danger.

Normalizing the Silent Struggle with Mental Health

Bachchan has done an incredible amount to raise worldwide mental health awareness by publicly exposing his personal struggles with work stress. He has effectively removed the heavy veil of shame that typically surrounds the topic of anxiety, particularly among older generations.

If the ultimate “Angry Young Man” of Indian cinema can freely acknowledge to feeling inadequate, then everyone else has the right to be human as well. It is a welcome reminder that being overburdened by your commitments does not imply weakness.

The Relentless Creative Hunger That Never Sleeps

Finally, this severe self-doubt is the secret fuel that drives Amitabh Bachchan to labour continuously at an age when most people have retired. It’s a curious paradox: his severe inner agony serves as the driving reason behind his legendary longevity.

He refuses to rest on his past accomplishments or rely on his immense celebrity to get by. Every sleepless night reveals a man with the raw, eager heart of a novice. He remains gloriously, devastatingly uneasy about his work, which is precisely what makes him an everlasting force in film.

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