Researchers work on the development of antibodies against the coronavirus

Researchers from the Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, the Center of Production and Immunological Research (CPPI), the State Health Department (Sesa) and the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) are working on the development of antibodies against the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The study immunizes horses for the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that will be extracted from the plasma of these animals, then modified and purified in the laboratory.

The researcher who designed the study, Bonald Cavalcante de Figueiredo, explains that treatment with antibodies is called passive immunity because the patient receives the antibody instead of producing it. “The difference is that the active vaccine requires a time that goes from 15 to 30 days for the vaccinated person’s body to start producing the antibodies. Patients who are in severe COVID-19 condition usually do not have time to wait for immunity from an active vaccine. Our passive immunity option can be a solution for these people,” he details. Figueiredo also says that the project has a second purpose, which is to innovate with a fast and much more complete test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

This is one of the subjects of the 11th edition of Pequeno Príncipe News – Special edition COVID-19, that also presents a report that shows that even with the relatively smaller number of visits during the coronavirus pandemic, caused by the temporary suspension of elective procedures (those that are not urgent), the Pequeno Príncipe Hospital continues to welcome a large number of highly complex cases, in the different specialties it offers.

Considering the first half of 2020, the Hospital performed about 95 transplants. Of these, 55 procedures – or 57% of the total – were performed between the months of March and June, a period in which the pandemic intensified in Brazil. There were 20 transplants of bone tissue, 15 transplants of bone marrow, 13 transplants of heart valve, five kidney transplants, one liver transplant and one heart transplant.

The technical director of Pequeno Príncipe, Donizetti Dimer Giamberardino Filho, reinforces that the institution is managing to maintain its goals of serving children and adolescents in their different needs. “The beds dedicated exclusively to COVID-19 have been meeting the contingency of needs requested by the state of Paraná. The other beds focused their energy on urgent and emergency patients, in addition to highly complex diseases. With that, we assure patients their right to health treatments, avoiding the worsening of their illnesses by maintaining continuity of care,” he emphasizes.

COVID-19 Report
The Pequeno Príncipe News also presents a report about the patient care offered to boys and girls with suspected of COVID-19. Since March 4 until August 14, the Hospital investigated 460 patients with suspect of the disease and 70 cases have been confirmed. Of these, on August 14, 17 remained hospitalized, receiving all necessary care, 24 were in isolation at home, 27 were recovered and, unfortunately, two patients died.

Click here and read the full-length articles in the 11th edition of Pequeno Príncipe News – Special edition COVID-19.