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_sticker-p217445233701627500z85xz_400.jpg