Doctors long ago recognized that biomarkers could be used to diag-
nose diseases. Even in ancient times, for example, healers realized
that sweet-smelling urine is a sign of diabetes. Medical experts now
know that glucose molecules are a biomarker for diabetes, while the
presence of a peptide hormone called human chorionic gonadotro-
pin in the urine indicates pregnancy. Blood components, concen-
trations of ions, enzymes and hormones and antigens are all classic
examples of biomarkers in laboratory diagnostics. New molecular
biology techniques also measure DNA sequences. Biomarkers can be
classified into various groups: diagnostic biomarkers allow doctors
to pinpoint the exact condition a patient has and distinguish it from
similar conditions, prognostic biomarkers are useful for assessing
the probability of a cure or how the disease will progress, and pre-
dictive biomarkers are used to determine the likelihood of a patient
developing a specific condition in the future. In Alzheimer‘s disease,
for example, it is highly likely that pathological changes occur in
the brain long before other symptoms appear. Suitable biomarkers
that would identify this preclinical phase and distinguish it from
similar conditions would be hugely important.
profile and, for example, a disease. The
metabolic processes in the tissues and
cells of a large number of organisms are
generally known, but there is still a lack
of details at the molecular level. Recent
advances in mass spectrometry allow
us to measure thousands of known and
unknown metabolites simultaneously.
A large number of new metabolomics
studies have been set up to identify
previously unknown metabolic prod-
ucts as relevant markers for diseases
and plant health. “This new knowledge
can be used to characterize biological
states and thus to develop new research
approaches,” says Ott, who is currently
looking at more than a dozen biological
issues from the whole world of Bayer
CropScience. Together, he and his team
are planning the next research steps:
“In particular, we are debating which
analysis methods make good sense for
possible pilot studies,” explains the bio-
informatics specialist. Uniformity is es-
pecially important to Ott in this process.
“Results such as metabolic profiles and
metabolite patterns can only be opti-
mally placed in a broader context when
the underlying experimental conditions,
sample preparation and measurement
techniques permit comparability or
when incomparable results are marked
as such,” Ott explains. Their focus is pri-
marily on optimally combining the right
experiments for the issues at hand, with
the objective of creating a metabolite
knowledge database that stores all in-
formation, links it and makes it accessi-
ble to all Bayer scientists worldwide. This
extremely valuable knowledge basis will
play an important role in the company’s
research future and will also provide sci-
entific support for market products. The
establishment of a joint metabolomics
technology and data platform for Bayer
Pharmaceuticals and Bayer CropScience
therefore represents significant added
value for both organizations. “In the
future, we will be able to better com-
pare results and arrive at those results
faster and more easily. We are thus fa-
cilitating efficient sharing of knowledge
and establishing analytical methods
that are available to the entire team,”
says Ott.
Medical laboratories use samples of urine, saliva, blood and tissue fluids
for diagnostic work.
Biomarkers – revealing substances
www.research.bayer.com/
metabolomics
More information on this topic
“Molecular changes in
the metabolic profile
can be measured even
before any symptoms
become visible.”
Dr. Mark-Christoph Ott,
Head of Bioinformatics at Bayer
CropScience in Monheim am Rhein
Bayer research 28 July 2015
33
Life science research
SPECIAL FEATURE
1
The immunostimulant is injected into the
muscle tissue of beef cattle. It contains special
Immunostimulatory
DNA
encased in a protective
membrane (liposome).
2
The active constituent of the immu-
nostimulant is
Immunostimulatory
DNA
(mixture of CpG and non-CpG
immunostimulatory motifs). Its struc-
ture is typical for the genetic material
of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The
animal’s immune system can therefore
identify these DNA sequences easily –
they are like a red flag to the immune
system.
6
If any pathogens actually
make it into the body, the
alerted
macro phages
and other
immune cells immediately strike.
In this way, the animal has an
enhanced immune response
against invading germs, poten-
tially reducing the need for
therapeutics.
Invading
pathogens
Immunostimu-
latory DNA
VETERINARY MEDICINE: HELPING ANIMALS FIGHT INFECTIONS BY ENHANCING THEIR IMMUNE RESPONSE
Enhancing immunity
Complex infectious diseases remain a key challenge in animal husbandry despite the availability of effective veterinary
medicines. Vaccines and antibiotics are commonly used, but they are only effective against specific pathogens. Stimulation
of the innate immune system has been shown to provide a rapid, potent and broad protective response to infectious agents.
Scientists at Bayer are exploring the potential of immunostimulants to help veterinarians and producers around the world
better mitigate infectious diseases in livestock. Daniel Keil, Director of Clinical Development at Bayer HealthCare Animal Health
North America, has worked together with a multi-disciplinary team of Bayer scientists to develop Immunostimulatory DNA for
veterinary use. This product is based on technology developed by Juvaris BioTherapeutics and is patent protected. The Animal
Health applications are being exclusively developed by Bayer Animal Health and are the subject of Bayer patent applications.
34
Bayer research 28 July 2015
MEDICINE
Immunostimulation