Introduction to health biotechnology

Health Biotechnology

1. Lecture# 1 Introduction to Health BIOTECHNOLOGY Amina Yaqoob

2. Biotechnology using living organisms or processes to develop products for the welfare of mankind Scientific approaches to get new organisms or novel products from living cells or organisms

3. Background history The term coined by Hungarian engineer Karl Ereky However, begins with the first action of man on life for his welfare Modern biotechnology started in California in 1970s

4. Origin of biotechnology Although it seems like a new thing, biotechnology has actually been around for a while: Domesticated plants and animals are the result of selective breeding Using yeast to make bread rise Using bacteria or yeast to ferment grapes into wine

5. Applications Green biotechnology (agricultural) Red biotechnology (medical) Blue biotechnology (aquatic) White biotechnology (industrial)

6. White biotechnology The use of biological methods in industry Applied by manufacturers of laundry detergents Includes research for new enzymes (proteins that remove oily and protein-based stains) Enzymes that work under extreme conditions (wash temperatures of 20°C or 90°C) This often entails modifying the enzymes of microorganisms for these processes

7. Green biotechnology Use of biotechnological techniques in agriculture Vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem and can cause blindness at a young age if left untreated Golden rice was genetically modified to produce beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A that the body converts to vitamin A). A diet including golden rice can thus help to raise vitamin A levels

8. Red biotechnology/Health biotechnology Red biotechnology (Bio-pharmaceutical) is a process that utilizes organisms to improve health care and help the body to fight diseases. It is a branch of modern  biotechnology  which is utilized in the field of medicine It includes: Production of medicines and pharmaceutical products for treating or diagnosing disorders o Designing of organisms to manufacture antibiotics and vaccines o Engineering of genetic defects through genomic manipulation o Use in forensics through DNA profiling

9. Examples of red biotechnology Production of human insulin from non- human sources. Production of hormones like Interferons, Cytokinins , Steroids and human growth hormones. Gene therapy for prevention and control of diseases like hemophilia cystic fibrosis Development of vaccines and antibodies for rabies, HIV, etc.

10. Applications of Health/Medical Biotechnology Drug production Pharmacogenomics Gene therapy Tissue engineering

11. Drug production It is the process in which pharmaceutical products are produced through application of biotechnological techniques Medicines are produced for: Diagnosis Cure treatments Prevention of disease Producing medicines through: Isolating enzymes Genetically engineering enzymes

12. Drug production Recently , plants are being genetically modified to produce pharmaceutical products instead of their natural compounds For Example: A drug Elelyso for treating Gaucher is being produced by genetically engineering carrots INSULIN: Human insulin is being produced using genetic engineering technique known as HUMULIN and it is used for the treatment of diabetes that is low sugar level in the blood

13. Drug production INTERFERON: Interferon interfere in transmission of viral genome from one cell to another and it also inhibits the cell division of abnormal cells. Interferon produced using the recombinant DNA technology is used to treat cancer patients. Interferon improved the quality of life of cancer patients…..

14. Drug production HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE: Since dwarfism is caused by growth hormone deficiency so it can be diagnose by HGH testing. So HGH is used for the treatment of dwarfism due to hypo pituitary activity.

15. Pharmacogenomics Pharma = Drug or Medicine Genomics = The study of genes Studying response of genetic make up of an individual to a drug or pharmaceutical “One-size-fits-all drugs” only work for about 60 percent of the population at best. And the other 40 percent of the population increase their risks of adverse drug reaction because their genes do not do what is intended of them.

16. Significance of pharmacogenomics Helps in the development of tailor made medicines Ensures more appropriate methods of determining drug dosages Improve process of drug discovery and approval Obtaining of better and safer vaccination Decrease in the overall cost of Health Care Advanced Screening for Disease

17. Opinion: Future of pharmacogenomics This sort of card would initially (~2025) include mostly information related to drug metabolizing enzymes. Around ~2050 it might include an entire individual genome

18. Hurdles in implementation of pharmacogenomics Some barriers faced are: Complexity of finding gene variation that affect drug response Limited drug alternatives Disincentives for drug companies to make multiple pharmacogenomics products Educating healthcare providers Ethical concerns

19. Gene therapy The process in which a faulty gene is removed or replaced with its healthy copy to restore the normal function of that gene Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene Inactivating or “knocking out” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly Introducing the new gene that help fight a disease

20. Gene therapy: Delivery systems Some common ways are: Using fat droplets in nose sprays Using cold viruses that are modified to carry alleles ,go into the cell and affect them The direct injection of DNA(might include electroporation or biolistic method)

21. Gene therapy The process of gene therapy is of two types: Stem cell gene therapy: In this gene therapy is applied on a fully developed organism and the effects of gene therapy lasts only to the operated organism Germ line gene therapy: In this process gene therapy is done on a fertilized egg or an early embryo and the altered genome is followed in next generations.

22. Tissue Engineering A form of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering is the creation of human tissue outside the body for later replacement. Usually occurs on a tissue scaffold, but can be grown on/in other organisms as shown on the right

23. Tissue engineering Tissue engineers have created artificial skin, cartilage and bone marrow. Current projects being undertaken include creating an artificial liver, pancreas and bladder. Again , we are far from replacing a whole organ, but just looking for “refurbishing” our slightly used ones at the moment.

24. We have studied… What is Biotechnology. Its domains What is health Biotechnology Applications Drug production Pharmacogenomics Gene therapy Tissue engineering