Download Use of Bacteria in Antibody Production - BLI-Research-Synbio

USE OF BACTERIA IN
ANTIBODY PRODUCTION
ROBERT GALLO
A BIG PROBLEM…
• There are many diseases in the world caused by pathogens that devastate many people each year,
causing pain, financial loss, and death
A SOLUTION…
• Use modified E. Coli to create antibodies for certain diseases ahead of time, so that an immune boost
can be given via injection, or so a response can begin before it normally would.
BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
• Your body makes antibodies to fight infections
• Antibodies latch onto the receptors on pathogen to mark them for destruction by T-cells
• Antibodies also can destroy some pathogens by themselves
HOW ANTIBODIES ARE MADE
• Antibodies are made in cells known as B-cells
• The genes for antibodies are stored in 3 regions known as the IGH, IGK, and IGL chromosome regions
• About 1,000 antibody genes code for 10 Billion Antibodies
ANTIBODY DIVERSITY
• To make so many antibodies, a process known as V(D)J Recombination occurs
• In this, genes are recombined to make the desired antibodies
ENGINEERED E. COLI SOLUTION
• First, Human Macrophages are introduced to a pathogen
• Upon consumption, the macrophages display a signal on its surface telling the E. coli to begin antibody
production
• Normally, Helper T-cells receive the signal and send another one to B-cells
WHAT THE E. COLI DOES
• Upon receipt of the signal from the macrophage via the T-cell receptor gene spliced in, the E. coli
creates a signaling molecule that activates the antibody production genes and the V(D)J recombination
gene that were also spliced in.
• In addition, GFP will be made along with the antibody to demonstrate that the system is working
TESTING
• Everything must be tested!
• 3 principle tests needed:
• First, verify that the macrophages will still eat the pathogen and properly display its signal
• Then, verify that the E. Coli interpret the signal correctly and produce antibodies
• Last, verify that the antibodies do not cause an immune response
PROBLEMS
• Probably a lot of bugs that need working out
• Might cause an immune response
• Probably very expensive in development and cost
OTHER OPTIONS?
• Vaccines: They are the best option, as prevention is always better, but they are useless, if not harmful,
after infection has begun
• Antibiotics: They only work for bacteria, not viruses, but are effective and readily available. They also
increase the risk of creating superbugs
SOURCES
•
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26860
•
newscientist.com
•
cellsalive.com/antibody
•
ebi.ac.uk
•
lifetechnologies.com
•
Registry of Standard Biological Parts
•
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/RAG1
•
TinkerCell
•
Wikipedia
•
https://www.pblassaysci.com/sites/pblassaysci/files/images/Antibody%20structure.jpg
•
http://www.smcm.edu/gambia/photos/vaccine.jpg
•
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yy1sO-aDry0/TylPVEt1YVI/AAAAAAAAA0g/reR5WHr9Ur4/s1600/i_love_fixing_problems_stickerp217445233701627500z85xz_400.jpg