(Photo : Pixabay)

What is considered to be a breakthrough discovery in the fight against the deadly coronaviruses, scientists have discovered an antibody which is capable of neutralizing all variants of the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), the virus that causes COVID-19.

While studying the effects of hybrid immunity or effect of immunity provided by a combination of both infection and vaccination, a team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, discovered and isolated a plasma antibody called SC27 in a patient. Researchers used a technology, called Ig-Seq, to isolate the antibody.The team found that SC27 was highly efficient in neutralizing the virus. 

Interestingly, the research team was able to obtain the exact molecular sequence of the antibody and expected that their discovery will help manufacture it on larger scale.

"The discovery of SC27, and other antibodies like it in the future, will help us better protect the population against current and future COVID variants," researcher Jason Lavinder from the Cockrell School of Engineering, said in a statement.

The covid 19 virus has been undergoing genetic changes since its discovery, making it tough to develop a universal vaccine or treatments for the infection.

It is known that corona virus uses its spike protein to penetrate and infect cells in the body.  In the new study, scientists noticed that SC27 was able to recognize different characteristics of spike proteins in COVID variants and was able to block the spike protein, thus preventing the infection.

Hybrid immunity provided more antibody -based protection against the virus exposure than while provided separately by infection or vaccination.

Researchers expected their discovery to help in developing a universal vaccine for covid -19.

"One goal of this research, and vaccinology in general, is to work toward a universal vaccine that can generate antibodies and create an immune response with broad protection to a rapidly mutating virus," Will Voss, from University of Texas, who co-led the study, explained.

Findings of the study have been published in the Cell Reports Medicine.

The discovery comes amidst a sudden rise in covid -19 cases across the world.According to the health experts from the World Health Organization, this trend is "unlikely to decline soon."

"COVID-19 is still very much with us," and circulating in all countries, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of WHO told journalists in Geneva, according to UN.

The UN agency also revealed its concern over the entry of more severe variants of the deadly virus in the future.