Whole Network Most Recent TOP10 Gene Therapy Microbiology Nanomedicine Stem Cells

 

AIDS Drug Compound From Sunflowers

Filed in archive Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics by ruth on January 17, 2006

BlogPicture
Ten years ago, a compound called dicaffeoylquinic acid has been shown to effectively inhibit HIV in vitro, and are therefore important lead compounds which may be used in AIDS therapy. However, because the compound, found in artichokes and wild chicory, is very difficult to procure, the market price (currently about �1000 per milligram) is too costly for use in routine therapy.

Researchers from the Bonnlinks Centre of Molecular Biotechnology (CEMBIO), however, reports of an alternate, possibly cheaper, source: sunflowers.

Sunflowers which showed resistance to the fungus causing 'white stem rot' were found to produce DCQA in as a defensive response to the fungal infection. The scientists are already planning the next steps:

'We want to attempt to cultivate sunflower cells or other plant cells in a nutrient solution together with the mould Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and then obtain the enzyme from the liquid,' CEMBIO researcher Ralf Theisen says. 'If things go according to plan, we could produce DCQA at a substantially reduced cost.'


Other possible routes would be to identify the genes coding for DCQA and either over-express it, or excise and transfer it into other expression systems. The scientists also consider simply identifying the enzyme in sunflowers responsible for transferring the caffeoyl groups to quinic acid, and subsequently manufacturing DCQA synthetically.

The plants probably only have one enzyme, which acts as a catalyst for this transfer. If we can find the construction manual for this enzyme, i.e. the corresponding gene, and can smuggle it into the bacteria, the latter can produce the enzyme in large quantities. The critical step of synthesis would then be child's play and could be carried out on an industrial basis by using the fermentation technology available in J�lich.'


Source: Uni Bonn


Advertisement


Permalink: AIDS Drug Compound From Sunflowers
Tags: AIDS  HIV  biotech  aids  drug  aids+drug  drug+compound  stem+cells 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/13942



Advertisement


Advertisement


RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Googlegoogle   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo!yahoo
AddthisAddThis Feed Button
BloglinesBloglines
Newsletter

Use our search feature to look for other interesting posts

Just this blog Whole network
 
  • Advertise with us

  • Learn more about our advertising options or email advertising - at - creative-weblogging.com or give Luis a call at +1 (650) 331 8047.


  • Testimonials

  • 'Very nice blog layout with great content. Are you interested in Star Trek props that are quickly becoming reality? Then this is the blog for you. Human medical scanners, nano technology and more great technological advancements.' -VirtualLoop Blog of the Week

    'I subscribe to your blog and have been enjoying your posts and perspective.'
  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network







 
Tagcloud: Biotech Hubs and Facilities Biotech/Science Blogs Corporate and Industrial News Diagnostics, Methodologies and Instrumentation Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics Energy, Environment and Ecology Food and Agriculture Gene Therapy Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics Meetings and Other Events Microbiology Nanomedicine Other Biotechnology News Patents and Intellectual Property Rights Sponsored Post Stem Cells