Ali Baba and the 40 camels
For
Students bored, take by assault the lab!
As fantastic as the tales of the Arabian Nights could be the stories surrounding some scientific discoveries. Who would imagine that the ship of the desert, the camel, would keep an important secret in his blood. A discovery that could revolutionize the treatment of dozens of diseases.
This story begins in the eighties when Raymond Hammers, an immunologist at that time
The result was surprising and left everyone confused, something new was in the blood of these strange animals.
This completely unexpected, like rubbing Aladdin's lamp, found in the blood of camels, in addition to the normal antibodies in the blood of all vertebrates, the camels had , a new type of antibody, much smaller, resistant to changes in pH and temperature.
A more detailed study of these antibodies revealed that dimers were formed by heavy chains (H) without light chains (L). In turn, the H chains lacking CH1 domain (this loss results from an altered splicing of exon encoding the CH1 domain that prevents its mRNA transcript and not a deletion in the corresponding gene) , being at much smaller than conventional H chain. This type of antibody called IgG step H
without side effects Chemotherapy
all know, the terrible effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. Nausea, hair loss, vomiting, anemia, fatigue, among others. The main objective in the fight against cancer is to kill tumor cells, for this highly toxic compounds used, but unfortunately, also affect other body cells, especially epithelial cells and rapid cell division, such as bone marrow cells, precursors blood cells. For this reason, researchers have tried to develop more specific therapies to respect the body's normal cells.
Since the discovery by Cesar Milstein and Georges JF Köhler of monoclonal antibodies (antibodies that specifically bind to a single antigen), have designed various strategies to use as missiles, "smart" to bring into tumor cells, compounds that destroy them, such as toxins, radioisotopes or molecules capable of releasing free radicals (harmful to cells) when illuminated with a laser. Would achieve in this way selectively destroy cancer cells without affecting normal cells.
There are currently ten drugs based on antibodies. But they have some problems and can be improved. One difficulty is the large size which prevents antibodies penetrate the tumor, and exert their deleterious effect on the tumor. Another problem is that they are very complex molecules, which greatly hinders its large scale production with current methods.
camel antibodies are much smaller and its structure is simpler, because as stated above, lack light chains. Therefore are easier to produce in different systems, eg Escherichia coli or yeast. This will allow your production is much cheaper . Another great advantage is its extraordinary similarity to human sequences which makes very little antigenic (there would be no rejection problems.) Given all these advantages, many laboratories have been engaged in research and development, together with companies that have provided the necessary capital.
The smaller the better!
Ablynx The company was created specifically to develop new products from the possibilities offered camel antibodies.
One of his first targets was develop the technology to further reduce the size of antibodies, leaving only, heavy chain, the region responsible for binding to the antigen, called variable region. Thus, they were designed the nanoanticuerpos , one-tenth the size of a normal antibody. These therapeutic proteins derived from antibodies are very stable and soluble. Due to its small size can inhibit enzymes by binding to the active sites or bind to receptors.
The nanoanticuerpos would have great advantages in its practical applications based on current therapies, normal antibody whether human, murine (mouse) or humanized (mouse genetically engineered to be similar to humans and to avoid immune reactions). In these therapies, antibodies must be injected, instead, nanoanticuerpos could be administered orally, due to its solubility and resistance to low pH and proteases of the stomach. Could then be absorbed via the gut and penetrate into the bloodstream.
Initial results obtained with the nanoanticuerpos are very promising. Ablynx, and has obtained several patents and has several of its products in various stages of research
"Mr. Grocer, you have something to Alzheimer's?
"Madam, you have cancer," said the doctor, without emotion, but do not worry, cross in front and buy yourself a raspberry yogurt, that has the antibodies that you need ...
not seem incredible, but maybe we are not so far from this idea anticipatory.
At least that's what it suggests, Luis Angel Fernandez Herrero, Ph.D. Molecular Biology, a research group that studies the protein secretion and expression of antibodies in Escherichia coli, a bacterium widely used in biotechnology.
This group of researchers has focused on the secretion by the bacteria of recombinant antibodies. As antibodies are highly specific for use against various diseases. The researcher points out two alternatives, the first would be to use the antibodies alone, produce them in large quantities, purified and then administer them to patients. The second alternative, it would take a probiotic (such as yoghurt or fermented milk), which contains nonpathogenic bacteria, which produce antibodies. These bacteria produce antibodies that may act locally or reaching the bloodstream, fighting certain diseases.
This line of research has been strengthened by the discovery of camel antibodies, which as we have seen are smaller, simple and stable. All this greatly facilitates their production and secretion by the bacteria.
Camelids, survival machines that protect their young very well
Camels are animals that possess a physiology only adapted to very inhospitable climates, also have an immune system very robust and resistant to viral infections. For example, are immune to the virus disease which affects other mammals.
South American Camelids, alpaca, llama, guanaco and vicuna, also have these antibodies. Have demonstrated the presence both IgG and IgG H in blood and milk. Which opens interesting perspectives for research and application, developing new products.
is very important to note that transmission of immunoglobulins from mother to child occurs in the llama and alpaca primarily through the absorption of colostrum newborn (neonatal immunity.) The antibodies present in colostrum and milk of camels are IgG. Instead mammals IgG transferred across the placenta, have secretory IgA in milk and colostrum. This IgA has a protective effect at the gastrointestinal tract, without entering the circulation. In mammals providing colostrum IgG, these have the dual effect of protecting the gastrointestinal tract and enter the bloodstream.
A camel's milk also has other important characteristics, rich in vitamin B, vit.C rich in calcium and ten times more iron than cow's milk, is also capable of reversing boxes lactose intolerance and allergies. No beta-lactoglobulin (a milk protein) and casein has is different from the cow. This makes it less allergenic. Several countries in the Middle East and Africa, this type of milk sold to great advantage. However, there are some difficulties such as lack of a method for keep it in containers for long periods, as this milk is not compatible with ultra high temperature process (UAT).
Perhaps not too far distant is marketed worldwide camel milk rich in antibodies (which not only protect our gastrointestinal tract infections viral or bacterial, but penetrate into the bloodstream and reach all tissues) to help treat or prevent infections, allergies, arthritis remautoidea, cancer or Alzheimer's disease.
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