Research The Bayer Scientific Magazin, Edition 28
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- SPECIAL FEATURE 1
- Invading pathogens Immunostimu- latory DNA
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
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).
The active constituent of the immu- nostimulant is
(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.
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 Yüklə 11,94 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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