A staff member displays a sample of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine at a vaccine production plant of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2020. Photo:Xinhua

 A team of Chinese scientists has discovered two human monoclonal antibodies that can block COVID-19 infection and can potentially be used for the development of relevant drugs and vaccines, according to a report the team published in Nature.

The report refers to the two antibodies as B39 and H4. They can neutralize the virus in cell culture and target a shared epitope. Experiments already carried out on mice confirmed the antibodies can reduce the virus load in the lungs and can be mixed to contain the infection.

The team consists of a mix of scientists from several Chinese institutions including the Capital Medical University, the Institute of Microbiology under Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, according to a report by the Xinhua News Agency.

According to the Xinhua report, the two antibodies have the potential in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, and are already undergoing research and development for potential production in related companies.