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Irish Independent
15 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Why llama cells could be crucial to treating schizophrenia
The serious brain disorder causes people to interpret reality abnormally, and affects approximately one in 50 Irish adults between the ages of 18 and 65. But the domesticated South American woolly animal might be able to help. French researchers said this week they had used llama antibodies, or proteins that help to protect the immune system, to design a tiny fragment of an antibody known as a 'nanobody' that will trigger a neurotransmitter in the brain involved in regulating neural activity. Neurotransmitters are chemical molecules that carry messages or signals from one nerve cell to the next target cell, according to the Cleveland Clinic. No llamas were harmed in the study and researchers can identify nanobodies in a petri dish. In the past, llama antibodies have also proven effective in fighting Covid and other 'Sars-like' viruses. When scientists at the Institute of Functional Genomics injected the molecule into the veins or the muscles, it was able to break the blood-brain barrier and effectively reach brain receptors. In mice… it is sufficient to treat most deficits of schizophrenia The barrier is a tightly locked layer of cells that defend your brain from harmful substances. Studying the impact of the nanobodies in two tests using mice, the researchers found that they corrected cognitive deficits that were observed. There was an improvement of cognitive function with just one shot, and a prolonged effect over one week. Clinical studies are now required to show that their findings could be a new avenue of treatment for schizophrenia. 'In humans obviously we don't know [yet], but in mice yes, it is sufficient to treat most deficits of schizophrenia,' molecular biologist Jean-Philippe Pin told Newsweek. He was a co-author of the research which was published in the journal Nature. Dr Pin said medications currently given to schizophrenic patients 'treat the symptoms well, but less the cognitive deficits'. The cause of the chronic condition remains unknown, but the World Health Organisation says it is thought that an interaction between genes and a range of environmental factors may be the reason. 'This research confirms the potential of nanobodies as a new therapeutic strategy for acting on the brain, with their use eventually being broadened to include the treatment of other neurological illnesses,' the institute said in a statement.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Llamas could help treat schizophrenia: study
Talk about a llama-zing discovery. They're known for their fluffy furs and sassy stares, but scientists have discovered that llamas may also be the key to treating schizophrenia. And this isn't even the first time this year that llamas have been at the heart of curing a scary health issue. Advertisement They're known for their fluffy furs and sassy stares, but it turns out llamas may also be the key to treating schizophrenia. Cavan for Adobe – In a mind-blowing new study, French researchers have developed a molecule from llama antibodies that could one day help patients with schizophrenia overcome cognitive deficits — a major hurdle that existing treatments fail to address. Scientists at the Institute of Functional Genomics in Montpellier have engineered what's called a nanobody — a tiny antibody fragment found in camelids like llamas — that can activate a specific glutamate receptor responsible for brain signaling. What's more, this molecule can cross the blood-brain barrier — a major challenge in drug development — and go straight to work on neural receptors when injected via a vein or muscle. Advertisement Researchers tested the llama-derived nanobody in two preclinical models of schizophrenia. Just one injection was enough to boost brainpower in mice, showing a clear and sustained improvement in cognitive function for up to a week. More research will be needed to see if this presents a promising new avenue of treatment for schizophrenia and, if so, whether or not this can be expanded to treat other psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Advertisement The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects how people perceive reality, leading to hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speech, paranoia and time gaps. elnariz – Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects how people perceive reality, leading to hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speech, paranoia and time gaps. More than 200,000 people in the US are living with schizophrenia, for which there is no cure. Advertisement The cause of schizophrenia is still unknown, but research suggests a combination of genetic and environmental factors are likely to encourage its onset, which typically occurs between the ages of 16 and 30. Schizophrenia is primarily treated with antipsychotics, which target some of the more severe symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, but fail to do much for cognitive function. This new study offers hope for repairing cognition, as opposed to simply managing symptoms. 'In humans obviously we don't know [yet], but in mice yes, it is sufficient to treat most deficits of schizophrenia,' paper author and CNRS molecular biologist Jean-Philippe Pin told Newsweek. 'For development as a therapeutic tool, more safety and bioavailability studies are needed. Production of large quantities of high quality must be set up to start human studies. For these two possibilities, either a company takes up our project or we find investors to create a startup company.' Meanwhile, another study published last month found that llamas may also hold the secret weapon to curing COVID — and it's also in their nanobodies. 'This work provides a strong foundation for developing next-generation antibodies that could be vital in combating not only current but also future coronavirus threats,' said Dr. Xavier Saelens, senior author of the study and a principal investigator at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology in Belgium.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Treatments From Llama's Brains Can Help People With Schizophrenia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Antibodies from llamas could be used to create a new generation of schizophrenia treatments that can effectively target the brain, rather than just reducing symptoms. This is the promise of a study led by scientists at the Institute of Functional Genomics in Montpellier, France, who have designed a new "nanobody", made from llama antibody fragments, that can activate a receptor involved in regulating neural activity. The new molecule can be injected into veins or muscles and has demonstrated its ability to cross the protective 'blood–brain barrier' and effectively reach receptors in brain cells. This makes the new nanobody more effective than the antibodies currently used in schizophrenia treatments, according to the researchers. It is also biodegradable and associated with limited side effects. "There is an urgent need for efficient and innovative therapies to treat brain disorders such as psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases," the study authors wrote. "Immunotherapies have proved to be efficient in many medical areas, but have not been considered to treat brain diseases due to the poor brain penetration of immunoglobulins." (Immunoglobulins are antibodies critical to the body's immune response.) Although current treatments for schizophrenia—usually a combination of personalized talking therapies and medicines—can provide support and more day-to-day independence, the researchers say that they have little effect on the cognitive deficits impacting those living with the condition. Affecting around one percent of Americans, schizophrenia can cause a range of different psychological symptoms related to thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions. People may have so-called episodes, during which their symptoms are more severe, followed by periods when they experience few or no symptoms. A smiling fluffy llama face staring into the camera. A smiling fluffy llama face staring into the camera. Display/Getty Images "Patients have strong difficulties concentrating, leading to many cognitive problems," paper author and CNRS molecular biologist Jean-Philippe Pin told Newsweek. According to Pin, medications currently given to patients with schizophrenia "treat the symptoms well, but less the cognitive deficits." Some 'antipsychotics' currently used can also cause side effects in some people. In the new study, the therapeutic effect of the nanobodies was evaluated in two animal models of schizophrenia. The treatment was seen to correct cognitive defects and improve the animal's brain function from the first injection—with the beneficial effect lasting for at least one week. Pin explains that no llamas were harmed in the study—in fact, he added, "nowadays one can identify nanobodies from synthetic libraries generated in vitro, based on llama nanobody sequences. No need for the llama any more, and faster!" It is not clear at present whether this new llama-derived therapy is effective enough to stand alone, but early signs appear promising. "In humans obviously we don't know [yet], but in mice yes, it is sufficient to treat most deficits of schizophrenia," said Pin. However, as schizophrenia is a chronic condition, any such human-approved treatment would need to be taken for life. A graphic illustration representing colourful nanobodies targeting a protein found in the COVID-19 virus. A graphic illustration representing colourful nanobodies targeting a protein found in the COVID-19 virus. selvanegra/Getty Images Further clinical studies are now required to demonstrate that the nanobodies' ability to correct cognitive deficits could be safely and effectively applied to humans. "For development as a therapeutic tool, more safety and bioavailability studies are needed. Production of large quantities of high quality must be set up to start human studies. For these two possibilities, either a company takes up our project or we find investors to create a startup company," Pin explained. For now, the research confirms the potential of the nanobodies as a new therapeutic strategy acting on the brain, with scope for their use to eventually include the treatment of other neurological illnesses too. "Our results establish a proof of concept that nanobodies can target brain receptors, and pave the way for nanobody-based therapeutic strategies for the treatment of brain disorders," the researchers wrote. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about schizophrenia? Let us know via health@ Reference Oosterlaken, M., Rogliardo, A., Lipina, T., Lafon, P.-A., Tsitokana, M. E., Keck, M., Cahuzac, H., Prieu-Sérandon, P., Diem, S., Derieux, C., Camberlin, C., Lafont, C., Meyer, D., Chames, P., Vandermoere, F., Marin, P., Prézeau, L., Servent, D., Salahpour, A., ... Rondard, P. (2025). Nanobody therapy rescues behavioural deficits of NMDA receptor hypofunction. Nature.
