Your skeleton could supply these (Image: Image Source/Plainpicture)
- Stem cells in the bone marrow could be engineered to develop into B-cells that make antibodies against HIV
- These B-cells could then be extracted and treated with a virus which inserts the genetic code for a new protein
- Testing has been carried out on mice
- When these cells were injected into mice, some migrated to the bone marrow
- Where they began to manufacture the proteins (antibodies) they were "instructed" to make - antibodies against HIV
- However, they still need to look into the effectiveness on the wider scale and the effects of a wrong dosage (either a higher or lower dosage could prove to be fatal).
- If successful they will be implemented onto HIV positive patients and then possibly on children with mucopolysaccharidosis.
- Hamster cells can be harnessed to produce replacement enzymes, but the treatment costs around $250,000 (roughly £152,000) a year and involves regular injections.
- Matthew Scholz of Imunosoft says: "It might be possible to recreate the biochemical environment of youth,"
Engineering cells (Image: New Scientist)
- How might this fit in in an economically challenged area of the world, such as in India, where the patients may not financially disposed to pay for such expensive gene therapy that may or may not work??
- To what extent can this animal trial assure us of the relative success that this therapy could have in the human body??
- Ultimately could it be possible to engineer B-cells to produce any kind of protein or drug that the body needs??
- The pros and cons of using this technology to keep the body "healthy" and the "biochemical environment of youth"?? Bypassing the natural selection?? Increasing global population?? etc
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