Agrimedicine and Biotechnology

1. Agrimedicine and Biotechnology Biotech 2

2. Key Terms • Agrimedicine refers to medicines (pharmaceutical products) that are produced via agricultural products. • Pharming- creation and extraction of medicines and other medical products in living organisms through the use of biotechnology. Product Process

3. Basic Vocabulary • Antibodies • Structures produced in the immune system of animals to fight pathogens • Antigens • Harmful pathogens that can affect the immune system of an animal • Pharmaceutical • Compound used to enhance the health of plants/animals. Synthetic or Organic.

4. Vocabulary of the Body • Lymph System- body system of higher animals responsible for fighting pathogens and maintaining health. • Consists of lymph nodes, blood cells, etc. • Plants have no distinct immune system, only physical barriers to pathogens

5. What about the Blood? • Red Blood Cells are the most common cells in the blood stream. • Cup shaped and are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body • White Blood Cells, or leukocytes, are mostly responsible for attacking harmful organisms in the body. • There are different variations of leukocytes.

6. T and B Cells • White blood cells common in lymphatic system • B cells make antibodies that bind to pathogens. • T cells coordinate the immune system response • Some are also involved in destruction of viral or bacterial infections

7. Customizing Ribosomes • We know from the rice krispy treat lab that ribosomes manufacture proteins by following the RNA sequence • Researchers can manipulate the DNA (which then affects RNA) to cause animals or plants to produce important non-normal proteins

8. Bt Plants- A classic example

9. Custom Plants and Animals • Typically the first step in genetic modification is to identify, isolate, and extract an existing genetic sequence that results in the production of a compound.

10. Cut and Paste? • Not exactly but pretty close. • After the target sequence is extracted (cut) it has to be inserted (pasted) into the organism that will be used for pharming. • This is very difficult. • The hardest part is inserting the cut sequence at the correct point in the target organisms DNA.

11. GM and Extraction • With GM organisms the produced compound typically has to be extracted from the organism and purified. • First and most widespread use is the production of insulin with GM bacteria. • Often the animal is GM’d so that the compound is produced during milk production. • The compound is then extracted from the milk.

12. Medicine in your Food • By using fruits and vegetables to produce medicines the extraction process is eliminated. • Bananas are particularly effective since • They are eaten raw • They are large portion of the diet in many developing nations of the western hemisphere

13. Prescription Fruits and Veggies • Insertion of DNA coding for low levels of antigen production can be used as a substitute for traditional vaccines. • A major hurdle has been dealing with the absorption of the antigens in the digestive tract.

14. Genetic Modification of Embryo • GM of embryo’s or tissues is used to encourage the development of a particular medical substance or product. • Utilized for the production of: • Hormones • Antigens • Tissues and Organs • Other organic compounds

15. Dealing with Pathogen Resistance • Testing for resistance should be done to ensure that there is not an increase in pathogen resistance. • The potential overuse of antibiotics and other medical compounds can kill off most microorganisms • Only resistant strains would reproduce • Current (or developed) drugs would be useless

16. Pharming Research • Primarily focused on GM plants • Easier to modify genetic code • Reproduce quicker • Easily cloned • Countless forms available for production and growth need

17. Organ Transplant • Human DNA could be inserted into swine embryos to allow organs from animals to be transplanted into humans • Lessen chances/issues with organ rejection • Similar research with animal stem cells • Utilizes the ability of stem cells to differentiate without destroying human embryos

18. Gene Therapy • Process of removing or replacing gene sequences responsible for genetic disorders or the expression of negative traits.

19. Why Gene Therapy? • Could eliminate existence of certain genetic disorders • IF location of the sequence can be determined • Example could be the removal, genetic alteration, and reinsertion of blood cells with rare blood disorders to encourage the formation of an immune system

20. Concerns with Gene Therapy • Super-Kids? • A major concern is that parents could customize their children as if they were selecting options for a car. • Reality is that we are a long way off from being able to do that. • But we are closer than ever before…

21. Experimental Methodology in Agrimedicine

22. Bacteria • Used to test for the presence of antiobiotics in mild, fruit juice, and other compounds • Small amounts of diluted solutions of the compound is traced across an agar gel with certain types of bacteria. • If the bacteria die then that indicates the presence of an antibiotic

23. Molds vs. Bacteria • Some molds are antibiotic • Penecillium fungus on citrus is the classic example. • Penicillin was discovered by accident.

24. Immunoassay Tests • Used to test for the presence of antigens in a plant or animal • The part of the plant or animal containing the antigen should be diluted into solution

25. Immunoassay Issues • Concentrations of the produced compounds vary in different specimens and even within parts of the same specimen • To ensure the proper concentration is used in research each extraction should be individually tested and diluted.