Chennai:
Scientists are now studying 345 protein molecules of
fruit fly, some of which are similar to those conserved in humans, to help
identify new targets of drugs, according to a globally renowned scientist.
French Nobel laureate Jules A Hoffmann told reporters
here on Thursday that the molecules alone would provide plenty of target
discovery work for human biologists.
The scientist, who won the Nobel prize in physiology in 2011
for discovering how fruit flies combat infections, said that his research helped
in discovering receptor proteins that can recognize such microorganisms and
activate innate immunity, the first step in the body's immune response.
He said this has helped in development of new methods for
preventing and treating disease, for instance with improved vaccines against
infections and in attempts to stimulate the immune system to attack tumors.
He said following the research on innate immunity, the
first line of defense in a body that can destroy invading microorganisms and
trigger inflammation that contributes to blocking their assault, new drugs can
emerge in curing allergy, auto-immune diseases, rheumatisis and inflammatory disease.
The discoveries also made possible the development of much
improved vaccines against infections and in attempts to stimulate the immune
system to attack tumors. “These discoveries will also help us understand why
the immune system can attack our own tissues, thus providing clues for novel
treatment of inflammatory diseases which claims the lives of tens of thousands
of people,” he added.
The nobel laureate, while delivering the nobel lecture on
‘Antimicrobial Defence of drosophilia: A paradigm for Innate Immunity from
flies to humans’, said insects form 80 per cent of living organism in the world
and destroy one third of crops. They also are cause of many diseases in
mankind. He said his discovery found out why insects are resistant to
infections and the evolution of innate immune system found in 95 per cent of
living organism.
Hoffmann said during the research he had access to flies
with mutations in several different genes including Toll, a gene previously
found to be involved in embryonal development. When Hoffmann infected his fruit
flies with bacteria or fungi, he discovered that Toll mutants died because they
could not mount an effective defence. He was also able to conclude that the
product of the Toll gene was involved in sensing pathogenic microorganisms and
Toll activation was needed for successful defense against them.
The Nobel laureate, who is in India to participate in the
25 years of celebration of Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced
Research ( IFCPAR), said he is also studying ageing in the fruit fly.
Box:
Annamalai University scientists are planning to tie-up
with Nobel laureate Jules A Hoffmann to study viral infection in shrimps.
Speaking during a press conference Hoffmann said that the
university has expressed keenness to work on the project.
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