An immune system in a pill? First synthetic antibodies created that could on day treat cancer and even HIV

Published: 13:49 p.m., 10 January 2015

Source: Richard Gray for mailonline.

Link:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2947606/An-immune-PILL-synthetic-antibodies-created-one-day-treat-cancer-HIV.html

Science field: Medical investigation

Summary:

Chemists at Yale University have created molecules that mimic antibodies. The synthetic antibodies bind prostate cancer cells and white blood cells. They are a fraction size of natural antibodies so can be taken orally. Scientists are working on synthetic antibodies to target other diseases. It is hoped they could lead to new tailor made immunotherapy treatments.

Glossary:

-          Mimic: to resemble closely.

-          Cell: the most basic unit structure of an organism.

-          Tailor: to adapt so as to adjust to a purpose, need, etc.

-          Painkillers: something, as a drug or treatment that relieves pain.

-          Prostate gland: a gland in male mammals that surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra and secretes a liquid constituent of the semen.

-          Hijack: to seize, divert, or appropriate.

Review:

It may be soon be possible to give your own system a helping hand by taking a pill that mimics the action of antibodies. Scientists have created the first synthetic antibodies that can attach to disease causing cells and help target the body’s immune response to them. This mimics the action of natural antibodies which bind to diseased cells and bacteria in the blood stream and encourage white blood cells to kill them. This synthetic antibodies can be stored at room temperature and it could provide new and convenient ways of treating diseases like cancer.

This molecules, of the synthetic antibodies, can be taken as a pill like painkillers and antibiotics. Scientists have already used this molecules to produce a synthetic molecule that attacks prostate cancer. It is hoped that similar molecules could be used to develop treatments for other forms of cancer, bacterial infections and even HIV. This molecules are synthetic organic compounds that are approximately one-twentieth the size of antibodies. They are unlikely to cause unwanted immune reactions due to their structure, are thermally stable, and have the potential to be administered orally.

This is a form of immunotherapy that uses natural antibodies created from cells grown in the laboratory. They are created by combining chemicals in a laboratory, much like conventional drugs, meaning they can also be mass produced. It can be tailored to selectively recruit specific types of immune cells to kill tumor cells.

Written by Rebeca Mees