The end is near

Hi everyone,

To end this blog I would like to give a small summary of this blog-journey!

I began this blog by telling you some more about what technology is capable of doing with DNA. I gave some interesting ‘did you know’ about today and introduced you to glofish and the research for cancer genes and hereditary diseases. A big part of our discussion was about Ebola which was something actual and everyone had his opinion about it.

Because my Master thesis evolved around duplexes, I focused my last few post around the main application of duplexes: RNA interference. A biological process who consist of small interfering RNA sequences which make sure that the messenger RNA didn’t get to say his message (by degradation of the mRNA). Many research is done but there are still some challenges connected to this mechanism such as the delivery system or the fact that the siRNA had to reach their target without degrading itself.

I would like to thank you for reading my posts and making sure that we had some good discussions! I hope you enjoyed some of the posts (hopefully most of them) and I would like to wish everyone success with the last few months becoming an Industrial Engineer 🙂

The final qoute of the day: Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm – Winston Churchill

X

Jooske

20-thank-you

 

Video

Animated RNAi

Hi everyone

Here’s my 10th post! Let’s change it up! I found a fun video about RNA interference. I recently explained the RNAi process  but it isn’t that quite simple so why don’t use a video explaining the concept using funny animated figures. I think it might be more enjoyable for the EM and ICT students that follow my blog if it is presented this way 🙂

Enjoy!

Quote of the day: Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Albert Einstein

Xx – Jooske

 

reference: Youtube – TED-Ed (TED-Ed’s commitment to creating lessons worth sharing is an extension of TED’s mission of spreading great ideas). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzlGU5EI9rU

Hi everyone,

This post will evolve around another aspect instead of the medical and clinical side: nature, plants, crops… .  Insects enjoy plants and crops as much as we do but we have to pay the price. Not only in form of crop losses and insecticides but also in the evolution towards an insecticide resistance. This means new and alternative solutions need to be found.

One of them is using a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis which replaced a major part of the chemical insecticides. But unfortunate not every insect group is amenable for this kind of protection.

The second (possible) solution, you may have already guessed it, is RNA interference. They introduce trigger RNA into the plant which forms some kind of “diet” for the insects. The trigger RNA, as the word implies, triggers a specific cascade in the insect’s body, weakens the insect which will eventually killed them.

As you may know, every RNA interference process isn’t that simple. Many enzymes, structures, processes are involved. RNA interference needs a lot of research but the results shown are already promising.

Do you think is it necessary to search for this kind of problems? Or do we have to leave nature alone and let it evolve the way nature wants it?

Quote of the day: Plant and your spouse plants with you; weed and you weed alone. –Jean-Jacques Rousseau

 

X – Jooske

 

 

RNA interference: the good, the bad & the ugly

Hi everyone,

My previous post explained a bit the working mechanism of RNA interference. Some companies represent RNAi as the promising new technology for treating diseases. But being critical about things in live, I wondered if there were no downsides of RNAi. Off course there will be always some pro’s and contra’s but how much pro’s do we need to be convinced?

I searched the web and saw a forum where they presented some disadvantages such as:

  • unmodified siRNA can be easily degraded
  • cells need to be transfectable
  • transcript with high turnover rate are difficult to silence
  • a full understandment of the function of the cell is needed

From you point of view: are these factors which can be overcome? Or do you think that in some cases siRNA wouldn’t be so promising as they say?

I think RNAi is such a specific subject that every factor needs to be taken into account or else it won’t work and maybe than siRNA can be promising

Quote of the day:  To every disadvantages there is a corresponding advantage. – W. Clement Stone

See you next time!

Jooske

Video

RNA interference, a good idea?

Hi everyone,

In my previous post I already introduced you to the RNA interference also known as RNAi. This is a technology based on the interference or inhibition of the messenger RNA (mRNA). To translate a gene into a protein, a transcription of the DNA is needed. That’s where the mRNA comes in the pictures. mRNA plays the role of messenger, as the name says, and makes a complementary strand of the DNA. The mRNA is then in his turn translated into a protein. By using RNAi the transcription is inhibited and the protein can not by produced.

RNAi has the advantage of using a natural product to interfere with a gene. The challenge is to target those RNAs at the right place in the body and of those interferences can lead to some successful treatments.

Here a little clip to explain the mechanism:

So RNA interference is a natural process but do we need to play with nature to solve problems? Or is it just a good thing to make treatments and therapies so natural as possible so the human body can adapt faster?

Quote of the day: Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do – John Wooden

See you next time!

Jooske

references: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK-OGB1_ELE, http://www.lifetechnologies.com/be/en/home/life-science/rnai/rna-interference-overview.html

siRNA a different approach for Ebola

Hi everyone,

Here is my sixth post! Today I am going to talk some more about the applications of duplexes. As you may have read in my first blog post, my master thesis revolves around the process optimisation of duplexes. These custom-made duplexes are then shipped to companies who can use them for diagnostic or clinical purposes.

In my previous post I talked about GSK who is developing a vaccine for Ebola. But there are also companies who uses Small Interfering RNAs (siRNA) to develop a treatment for this virus. siRNAs consist of 20 to 25 nucleotides who can influence the expression of genes.

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation is a publicly traded company located in Vancouver, Canada and Seattle. Tekmira plays a major role in the RNA interference (RNAi) delivery technology. In May 2010, they started a series of studies which demonstrated that by using siRNA, delivered by Tekmira’s LNP technology, the Ebola virus was targeted to protect previous infected non-human primates. These results did indicate a 100% protection.

In January 2014 the human clinical trail was induced with human volunteers. This trail was in his first phase to test the the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of administering TKM-Ebola. In May 2014 Phase I was successfully completed. Tekmira hopes to deliver the product by the end of this year (December 2014).

As you may noticed, Tekmira could already have started on a treatment in 2010, so why wait? Did indeed the investment was to big at te time? Do they now see the chance to make a lot of money out of it? Or were the resources limited in 2010?

Qoute of the day: The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease. – Voltaire

See you next time!

Jooske

references: http://www.tekmira.com/about-tekmira/overview.php , http://www.tekmira.com/pipeline/tkm-ebola.php

Update: Ebola takes over the world!

Hi there,

A few days ago I heard something on the news about testing a vaccine for Ebola in the US. Therefor a little update about Ebola and the research for a vaccine.

So it is an experimental vaccine which they tested on 20 people in the US. The National Health Institute (NHI) calls the results very promising. Every one of those 20 people did produces some antibodies within 4 weeks. People who were given a higher dose also made more antibodies against Ebola. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), also a big company here in Belgium (established in Waver), develops this vaccine and hopes to produce a million vaccine per month at the end of 2015.

This looks promising, no? The only thing that is bothering me is the small test group. What do you think? They do say that the vaccine is tested in different countries like Switzerland, Great-Brittain, Mali and Uganda.

Quote of the day: A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little smaller – Paul Klee

See you next time!

Jooske

reference: http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20141127_01398965

Glofish?

Hi again!

The subject I’m about to address is genetic engineering of genetic modification. A short definition is the direct manipulation of the organism’s genome. We can than speak of genetic modified organism’s (GMOs). I’m going to give you some short examples of these GMOs to give some kind of awareness that this is a current subject in our live.

Almost all GMOs who play an important role in the food industry are divided into 4 main groups: soya, corn, cotton and canola.Those 4 groups of crops are most likely to by insect or herbicide resistance. Sometimes those two properties are combined. This means that the genetic material of those crops has been modified so the resistance is developed against insects or herbicides. This can result into a faster growth of the crops which means more availability for import and export. This also means that the sweater you’re wearing now can been made of modified cotton.

Another example in the medical industry is gene doping. With the help of modulating gene expression, the athlete can enhance his athletic performances. This is an example of the abuse of modifying genes.

Maybe a funny example is the modification of the Zebrafish, the Glofish. These are only  publicly available in the United states as genetic modified animal.

Quote of the day: We are driven by five genetic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. – William Glasser

See you next time!

Jooske

reference: https://www.kuleuven.be/metaforum/docs/pdf/wg_5_n.pdf

Ebola takes over the world!

Hi everyone,

Today I am going to discuss the big issue that is hunting us for the past few months: Ebola in West-Africa.

In the beginning of this year they discovered an outbreak of Ebola in Guinea. Ebola is caused by a virus called the Ebola virus and can do great damage to human kind. Symptoms such as fever, headaches and pain kicks can quickly evolve into interior bleedings, liver inflammation, coma and most people eventually die. Ebola can be spread in all body fluids, so the contamination level is very high. Even the tiniest bit of saliva can infect the other person.

You might ask yourself: why has this subject to do with molecular technology and DNA/RNA? Well viruses need a host to propagate themselves. When they interact with another (human) cell, they inject their genetic material into the cell. Once entered the cell, the genetic material can be reproduced and the virus can replicate himself. When a virus can replicate itself, it means that it survived and can cause the damage that it want.

In comparison of my previous blog, replication of DNA/RNA or genetic material in general, can lead to severe things. But with a world so advanced as today there must be some kind of solution. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is already working on a vaccine against Ebola. Updates say the vaccine will be available this month (November). Let’s hope a lot of people will get some help soon!

Quote of the day: Freedom is the most contagious virus known to man – Hubert H. Humphrey

I hope you enjoyed reading this post!

Jooske