Animal tests reveal synthetic decoy protein protects against coronavirus

While Pfizer and Moderna request emergency approvals for their coronavirus vaccines, researchers in Hong Kong and the US have discovered a new weapon that could fight the virus. Combining de novo design and directed evolution, they created a protein that binds to Sars-CoV-2 spike protein, blocking its infection pathway. The protein neutralises the virus in vitro and shows promising results in hamsters, protecting them from coronavirus infection after a small intranasal dose.