Scientists have identified natural nano-bubbles containing the ACE2 protein (evACE2) in the blood of COVID-19 patients and discovered these nano-sized particles can block infection from broad strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The protein acts as a decoy in the body and can serve as a therapeutic to be developed for prevention and treatment for current and future strains of SARS-CoV-2 and future coronaviruses. It could be delivered as a nasal spray. The new study, by scientists at Northwestern Medicine and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,  have discovered that these nano-sized particles can block infection from broad strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus in preclinical studies. The study, published in Nature Communications on January, 20, highlighted that the evACE2, once developed as a therapeutic product, can benefit human beings as a biological treatment with minimal toxicities.

The study is the first to show evACE2 proteins are capable of fighting the new SARS-CoV-2 variants with an equal or better efficacy than blocking the original strain. The researchers found these evACE2 nano bubbles exist in human blood as a natural anti-viral response. The more severe the disease, the higher the levels of evACE2 detected in the patient’s blood.