An American doctor infected with Ebola is receiving monoclonal antibody treatment in Germany, about four days after first testing positive for the virus.
Doctor Peter Stafford presents symptoms such as fever, dizziness, vertigo and nausea. He was in a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo when the WHO (World Health Organization) declared a public health emergency on Sunday (17).
But what are monoclonal antibodies, used to treat serious diseases such as the Ebola virus?
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a class of prophylactics made from different technologies that identify the genetic sequencing of infectious diseases. They are basically identical copies of an antibody created in a laboratory, injected into the bloodstream.
The treatment does not offer major side effects and stands out for its safety, especially with regard to precision when eliminating the infectious agent from the body. It “marks” the virus and helps them fight the disease.
“A monoclonal antibody exists when we can, in the laboratory, using certain methods, cultivate a cell that produces a single antibody and reproduce it in unlimited quantities”, explains Ana Maria Moro, director of the Center for Research and Development in Immunobiologicals (CeRDI) and the Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory at the Butantan Institute.
Unlike , which are considered a type of active immunization, monoclonal antibodies are passive: they teach the body to produce its own defense. They block cellular receptors that allow the virus to continue multiplying and are able to reduce the viral load in a short time.
In addition to viral diseases, the treatment has demonstrated great effectiveness against autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis, as well as cancer. In Brazil, the Butantan Institute is a pioneer in the development of antibodies, conducting studies of medicines already certified to be offered as treatment in the SUS (Unified Health System).
