New+Millenium+Biotech

“Boosting immunity using beneficial bacteria”
Good bugs live through out human bodies, they live in our mouths, on our skin, and in our intestines. They live in harmony with our bodies, creating a symbiotic relationship, they are offered a place to stay and in turn they fight off unwelcome bacteria. However in the sterile explosion that is our society today these bacteria that help our immune systems are being killed off with the over protective world we live in. Antibacterial is stamped on almost every product you can buy, and not with out consequence. These helpful bacterial that call our bodies home are no longer able to help fight off hostile bacteria that invade our bodies. One very important area that these bugs are needed is within our intestinal tract. A Scientist begin to realize the effects of our biotic free lifestyles are ruining the balance of good and evil with in the body, they set out to correct the injustice. Agricultural Research Scientist are now experimenting with the theory of Probiotics and it is now believed that when added to food these good bacteria can counteract the detriments of wide spectrum antibiotics and help boost the immune and gastrointestinal functions. These treatments have shown overly promising effects on animals tested, and many companies are looking into adding these probiotics to their products including Nestle Nutrition who is now funding much of these experiments.

Evan Carroll Rosalie Marion Bliss Agricultural Research (Nov-Dec 2006)

**Transgenic Silkworms Spin Human Collagen**
This article discusses Katutoshi Yoshizato’s, a scientist from Hiroshima, Japan development of silkworms who have the ability to spin human collagen genes. Collagen is a protein found within the skin, that could potentially be given to skin cancer patients or people suffering from severe burns. Yoshizato and colleagues created an exact copy of Collagen DNA, attaching a green fluorescent protein in order to tag and follow the progress of the protein. This DNA replica was then injected into the silkworm eggs. As the silkworms matured and spun their cocoons, the fluorescent green appeared, verifying that the protein was being produced as well. This can then be transferred to repair human skin. “Any medically useful protein that has previously been a target for transgenesis-human serum proteins, growth factors, cytokines, enzymes, and so on- could be produced using the same silkworm system.” Quoted Yoshizato.

By Katy Heydinger Bibliography: Transgenic Silkworms Spin Human Collagen. (Science and Medicine). Kathryn Senior. The Lancet 360.9350 (Dec. 21, 2006): p.2053

Naked DNA Could Prevent Impotence
Gene therapy using 'naked' DNA will soon prevent impotence. Although not expected for a few years, this new therapy was tested and showed that over a six month period, there was continuous improvement for erectile disfunction in the group of participating men. The therapy also proved effective against overactive bladder disease, irritable bowel syndrome and asthma. Half of men aged 40-70 suffer from erectile disfunction, so this new therapy might be revolutionary. A gene called hMaxi-k created additional molecules that would help potassium ions travel into smooth muscle tissue that would help symptoms in men. In order to transfer the gene, they use naked DNA, because transporting it in a virus could be very dangerous.

Summary by: Marianne Daniels Bibliography: "Naked DNA Could Prevent Impotence" Charles Q. Choi, Dec 5, 2006. LiveScience. http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20061205/sc_livescience/nakeddnacouldpreventimpotence&printer=1

Australia Cloning Ban Lifted
On December 7th, 2006 Australia lifted the ban for cloning embryos for stem cell research. This research could potentially find cures for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, spinal chord injuries, and arthritis. This development could cause the U.S. to lose scientists who want to go to Australia and aid in this research. The only restriction is that the cloned embryos cannot be implanted into a womb, and they must be disposed of within 14 days. The Bush administration has cut all federal funding for stem cell research as of August 2001, so all research in the U.S. is now privately funded. The new laws in Australia allow only therapeutic cloning, which is the splicing of DNA from skin cells into eggs to produce stem cells.

By: Joe Martini

Bedside Assistance
Little jasmine green tea plants are being researched in Australia to help cure/repair spinal cord Injuries. The cells in the green tea plants include certain genes that can be used in human beings to rejuvinate DNA. They may also be used to create substitute cells by genetic engineering that will help with the recovery of spinal cord injury patients. The method has been tested and used in rodents with promising results for the past two decades. Human subjects are currently being tested and results are showing postive signs that their spinal cords and brain injuries are healing. Patient showed a certain revival in their damaged cells.

Summary by: Peem Chatikavanij Bibliography: Wylie, Fiona. "From Laboratory to Bedside." Australian Biotechnology 15 Nov. 2006.

DNA vaccine making best for Alzheimer’s
In 2002, a pharmaceutical company Ban, based in Dublin, Ireland, created a vaccine that raised antibodies against the protein beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid, when overproduced, forms damaging plaques in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer’s. The downfall was that this vaccine created inflammation of the brain, which if serious enough, can kill you. However there is hope, the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience has created a new vaccine. They have tested it on mice engineered to develop Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, and this far has been successful without any serious side effects. The key was to inject the DNA vaccine before the beta-amyloid started to build up. The vaccine has estimated to stop about 50% of the protein build up. This is clearly an astounding discovery and will only help to create more effective vaccines for the future.

Summary by: Kurt Murphy Bibliography: Hooper, Rowan. “DNA vaccine best hope yet for Alzheimer’s.” New Scientist 17 June 2006

Purple Sea Urchin may hold key to cures
Recently Cristina Calestani from the University of Central Florida discovered that the Purple sea Urchin is more similar to humans than many other animal models. The scientist discovered that the sea urchin has 7,000 genes in common with humans. The one thing the scientist find most interesting about the sea urchin is the way their immune system works. They have an innate immune system and have up to 10 to 20 times as many genes as humans. Also, their life spans are usually around one hundred years, which hints to the scientist that there immune system must be powerful and could possibly provide a new set of antibiotic compounds to fight diseases. Calestani continues her studies by examining the development of pigment cells found in the marine creatures. These cells may give the scientist some information on human’s immunity to diseases.

Summary by: Chris Blydell Bibliography: "Sea urchin genome suprisingly similar to man and may hold key to cures." University of Central Florida. December 7, 2006.

GM Cow Can Make Human Growth Hormone Accessible
A genetically modified cow was able to produce a large amount of human growth hormone in its milk. Scientists were able to make this happen by adding the human gene that can produce human growth hormone to cow cells growing in a dish. Human growth hormone is very important in that it is effective in treating children with growth problems. But because it is usually either taken from dead bodies, or can be made from genetically modified bacteria, it is still so expensive (about $30,000 a year for treatments!), which is not a very practical option for most people. Therefore, by modifying cows to produce it, it could take as little as 15 cows to produce the current world demand for human growth hormone, and would be more accessible for the people who need it.

Summary by: Monica Markowski Bibliography: “GM cow milked for human growth hormone.” New Scientist 08 January 2005. 10 December 2006

Through growth hormones scientist are able to speed up the rate at which a wound is able to heal. This is made possible by doctors cleaning a wound, such as a 2nd degree burn, then adding recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rbFGF) to the area. This has recently been tested by giving 1,530 volunteers this rbFGF. These volunteers would either have been given the rbFGF or a fake version of the drug. In all of the test subject that were treated with rbFGF, there was a increase in the rate of healing. This new way to treat tissue wounds has been able to heal wounds faster and better. Now it is possible for burn victims have a better chance of re-growing their own skins faster, and more like it was before.

By: Rob Zammito Bibliography: Beth Kapes. “Skin regeneration through growth hormone factors: biotechnology makes advances, yet traditional approach central to healing. (Clinical Dermatology)” Dermatology Times (May 2005) (site visited on: 12/8/06)

Drug that can Increase Endurance
Genetically engineered mice were able to run almost twice as far as normal mice. This was accomplished by increasing the activity of a protein called PPARdelta that promotes burning fat and fighting obesity. By producing more PPARdelta, endurance is increased. Furthermore, a pill that is able to activate this protein is being clinically tested. Although this was discovered while studying genes involving obesity in order to help obesity related problems, this type of pill would probably be taken (illegally) by athletes in order to improve their endurance. Overall, by engineering a substance that can increase the activity of this protein, scientists have found a substance that may be able to be used to lower blood cholesterol and fat, along with other obesity related diseases.

Summary by: Peter Markowski Bibliography: Cohen, Philip. “GM 'marathon' mice break distance records.” New Scientist. 23 August 2004. 10 December 2006.

Glowing Salad Test Could Make You Healthier
With the help of luminescent squids, scientists at Purdue University have devised a way to test raw foods such as salads and fruits for the presence of the 0157 strain of E. coli. This detection system is made by adding a gene from the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, found in squid skin, to bacteriophages that only attack the 0157 strain. If any 0157 bacteria are present, the phage will multiply and generate the protein coded for by the Vibrio gene causing the bacteria to glow.

Summary by: Peter Jensen Bibliography: "How luminescent squid could make your salad safer.(Bacteriophages)(Brief Article)." New Scientist 182.2450 (June 5, 2004): 19(1). Health Reference Center Academic. Thomson Gale. Suffield Academy. 9 Dec. 2006.

In 2003, a study was preformed at University of California where researchers found a distinction in the gene expression of leprosy that showed two different clinical forms of the disease leprosy. This was a revolutionary study that distinguished between disease types that could lead to new ways to diagnose all types of diseases. Genetic profiling can distinguish between everything from a common cold to a deadly bio terrorism threat such as anthrax. Leprosy can now be diagnosed just by taking some cells from the skin lesions that are the first symptom of the disease. Scientists can tell the difference between different kinds of leprosy and can tell if it is actually a different disease all together. This early diagnosis could help with finding cures and healing the sick earlier, which will result in a higher recovery rate.

Summary By: Anna Childs Bibliography: "Study Uses Genetic Profiling to Distinguish Types of Leprosy." Biotech Week 1 Oct. 2003: 469. Thompson Gale. Suffield Academy. 8 Nov. 2006.

**Don’t you want one? I know I do!**
A living condom that includes bacteria that releases proteins that prevent HIV, that is. A study showed these results using human cells in a test tube. The new condom is considered a “microbicide,” which is a medication for women that prevents infection. One problem that could arise with these new condoms is that they may do more harm than good. It is possible that the bacteria will affect a woman’s lining, causing her to be at greater risk of contracting an infection; therefore, clinical tests must be ran. However, Lee, a founder of the new idea, decided to use Lactobacillus jensenii, which comes from the woman’s lining, so hopefully it wont cause any harm. The L.jensenii was the genetically modified bacteria. It was modified to produce a protein, CD4, which HIV binds to so that it does not enter the cell. Overall, more testing needs to be done, but hopefully, people will see the “’benefit to risk ratio’” high enough to help.

Author of Summary: Calli Schechtman Bibliography of Article: Cohen, Philip. “Living condoms’ to protect against HIV.” New Scientist 179.2412 (Sept. 13, 2003): 18(1).

Genetic Engineering Gets The Immune System to Attack Cancer
Immune cells have been discovered to be able to “punch through the defenses of tumors.” The method will soon be tested by people, and the testing done on mice has been immaculate. As Chung Lee of Northwestern University says, “If you have cancer, and you’re a mouse, then I can cure you.” What the researchers have done is tried to boost the immune system in these rats and then have them rise up to the task of killing the cancer. What happens in the cancer is the cells create a slew of protective proteins, including one that even binds to immune cells to tell them to stop attacking the cancer. This protein is called TGF-[beta]. In order for the tumors to be killed by the immune system, Dr. Chung added a mutated gene for a TGF-[beta] receptor to cells from mouse bone marrow. Those cells bound to the TGF-[beta], but kept the TGF-[beta] from relaying the message to stop killing the cancer cells to the immune system. In order for the system to work, of course, there must be a bone marrow transplant. This process could very well be the future of cancer, and millions will benefit from this research.

Summary By: Charlie Huck Bibliography: Jones, Nicola. "Gene therapy gets the body to attack cancer." Health Reference Center Academic. 21 December 2002. 10 December 2006.

Nucleostemin: The Gene That Unites Life and Death
In December of 2002, it was reported that two researchers found a new gene that is involved in regulating the proliferation of stem cells and some types of cancer cells. This is because there might be similar devices at work in both stem and cancer cells. Therefore, this shows that oncology, the study of cancer, and stem cell biology are related and interact with each other. Ronald McKay and Robert Tsai discovered this new gene in Kobe, Japan. They found this new gene by working with cultures of different rat stem cells. This gene is expressed in primitive bone marrow cells and central nervous system cells. The called the new gene nucleostemin because the protein that it make appears to be mostly active in the nucleus of the stem cells. They also tested the gene’s activity in rat stem cells and human cancer cells and the nucleostemin slowed down cell proliferation. So, through this research, they discovered that there was a certain critical level where the nucleostemin could help regulate the proliferation of stem cells and some types of cancer cells. They are still doing productive research to find that level.

Normile, Dennis. "Common control for cancer, stem cells. (Cell Proliferation)." Science 298.5600 (Dec 6, 2002): 1869(1). Health Reference Center Academic. Thomson Gale. Suffield Academy. 10 Dec. 2006.
 * By: Khaya Leary**

Cloned Pets
Companies such as Lazaron, PerPETuate, and Genetic Savings &amp; Clone are collecting DNA from peoples pets, so when technology becomes better, the owner can have an exact replica of their pet. It’s the newest multi-million dollar business, because processing the DNA of your pet costs about $1,000 and storing it is about $100 a year. A cat was cloned at Texas A&amp;M University, and now companies are trying to clone cats that so they won’t give people allergic reactions. Some see this research as a chance to breed better pets, and others see it as a way to preserve some species, either way the technology of cloning is still growing and who knows what will come of it in our future.

Summary By: Caitie McNabb Klotter, Jule “Cloned Pets” Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients p. 25(1) October 2002 ~

**REDUCE AGING WITH A PILL?**
Researchers believe that a way to life longer and look younger is through caloric restriction. In order to make a difference in ones life they would need to reduce their caloric intake by 30%, which is like taking 2,500 calories a day to 1,750. This would be a hard regiment for most people these days. A drug called 2DG (2-deoxy-D-glucose) has the same effects at caloric restriction. This has been tested in animals but has proven to have some levels of toxicity and cannot be used on humans. This more or less affects the way the cells process the glucose sugars. By replicating caloric restriction the same effects are received and has potential to slow down signs of aging in the future. By reducing calorie intake the following effects could be obtained: lower body temperatures, later sexual maturity, later skeletal maturity, lower weight, less abdominal fat, greater sensitivity to fat, lower fasting insulin levels, lower fasting glucose levels, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower insulin-like growth factor 1 levels, higher levels of “good” cholesterol, slower decline in levels of the hormone DHEAS, later onset of age-related diseases (including cancer), more cell suicides (reduce tumor growth), longer average life span and longer maximum life span.

Summary By: Matt Shrubb Bibliography: Mark A. Lane, Donald K. Ingram, George S. Roth, “The Serious Search for an Anti-Aging Pill.” Scientific American August 2002: 36-41

FEB 2002 Something to Smile About
Many people don’t mind brushing their teeth; it only takes a short amount of time out of you day. But, scientist are getting close to developing modified bacteria that causes the cavities in your teeth. The bug found in your mouth that causes cavities on the teeth is called, Streptococcus mutants, which turns sugar into lactic acid that causes tooth decay. Jeffery Hillman, a dental researcher at the University of Florida, found that if S. mutant is replaced with the bacteria GM that is designed to prevent tooth decay because it excretes little to no lactic acid. But, this bacteria was still causing some cavities because of the little amount of lactic acid it produced. Hillman thus came up with a way to modify these bacteria. Hillman and his colleagues found a way to remove the gene that codes for the production of the enzyme that creates lactic acid. This new strain was called BCS3-L1. Hillman has tested these new bacteria on rats and a few volunteer humans; the results were that no S. mutans were found in their mouths almost 20 years later. The Food and Drug Administration have not yet okayed Hillman and his company to fully test the therapy on humans, and other researchers are working on a vaccine against cavity-causing bacteria. But, Hillman says it is much easier to fool around with bacteria then the human immune system.

Summary by: Leah Hunter Zandonella, Catherine. “Something to smile about: Genetically modified bacteria could save your teeth. (The Big One). (Brief Article).” New Scientist 173.2331 (Feb. 23,2002)

**Moral Implications of Therapeutic Cloning**
If a cloned organism were implanted into a womb, as was carried out in the case of Dolly the sheep, it has the potential to fully develop into a human form. Because of this potential, many at the time argued that the organism produced in human therapeutic cloning merits the same degree of respect and protection as a real human embryo. However, the counterargument was presented that, unlike an embryo, a cloned organism is not the result of fertilization of an egg by a sperm; it is a new type of biological entity never before seen in nature. Although it possesses the ability to develop into a full human being, this capacity is limited; at the blastocyst stage, the organism is a ball of cells no bigger than a period at the end of a sentence. Therefore, because it has no organs, it cannot possibly think or feel, and it has none of the attributes perceived to be “human,” the prevailing idea at the beginning of 2002 towards therapeutic cloning was that a clone’s non-human characteristics made it feasible to be used in work that has the potential to save the lives of children and adults alike.

Author of Summary: Matt Doup Bibliography: Green, Ronald M. “The Ethical Considerations.” Scientific American 286 Number 1 (January 2002): 48-50.

Beating Diabetes
Juvenile or type 1 diabetes is when the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. In 2001, 35 people recently diagnosed with diabetes type 1, volunteered for test. 18 people got the protein DiaPep277 injected three times over six moths, 17 people got placebos. When the test were finished the 18 people that had gotten DiaPep277 had a higher natural production of insulin then prior to the test. The 17 given placebos, their insulin production continued to fall. The protein DiaPep277 can be used to prevent diabetes, if the diabetes is found at a very early stage. Test on the long-term effects are now underway, and if there is nothing wrong, DiaPep277 could be on the market in a few years.

Summary by Carl Erik Hagen

Young, Emma. “Stopping Diabetes.” New Scientist 2319 (01 December 2001): 18

Lung Repair Kit
There has been a recent discovery in the year 2000 that mice embryos can be used to repair damaged lungs, Anne Bishop and her team of colleagues discovered this. The team took stem cells from a mouse embryo and let them grow in clusters. They let the cells grow for some time in a standard medium. After growing they found a comparison in the alveolar cells. Alveolar cells are cells found in human lungs, they are the air pockets. They confirmed that theses cells where the same. They believe that if they can find out exactly what was growing while the cells developed they might be able to turn all of the embryonic stem cells into alveolar cells. With this doctor would be able to repair damaged lungs. They would inject alveolar cells into the lungs and the cells would replace the damaged tissue. And with time it is said that the alveolar cells might be able to replace large parts of the lungs. With this recent discovery we will cure many diseases. But human alveolar and lung cells have not been created yet. They have only been created from animals.

Summary by: Lexi Walston Health Reference Center Title: Lung Repair Kit (stem cell research), New Scientist (December 16, 2000)

Highly Cultured Stem Cell Research
A team of scientists lead by Alan Trounson and Michael Pera researched stem cells and realized how beneficial they were to the human body. Although tampering with the stem cells could be dangerous, it could also lead to treatments for several diseases, such as Parkinson’s. Looking more into this subject, Californian researchers in the group Geron have turned stem cells into three different types of nerve cells. They separate them into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. These can help trigger electrical signals, nourish and insulate neurons, and protect the nerve cells themselves. The researchers have also turned the stem cells into liver cells and heart cells that beat in the test tube. Geron has not yet announced what they use to make the cells but they will continue to collaborate and find new discoveries on stem cells and their many functions.

By: Katy Higgins Coghlan, Andy. “Highly Cultured Stem Cell Research” New Scientist 167.2252 (August 19, 2000)