Synthesis of parasite surface sugars with vaccine potential
Chemists in the United States have synthesised arrays of immunosugars that occur on the surface of the Chagas disease parasite that have shown potential as a vaccine against the disease.
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanasoma cruzi. It is transmitted through blood sucking beetles in Latin America, contaminated food and blood transfusions. Treatment is only effective at the acute local infection stage, before the disease becomes chronic, so early diagnosis and a vaccine against the disease are highly desirable.
The surface of the Chagas parasite is garnished with unusual sugars, which are recognized by human antibodies. Sugar chemists have made synthetic arrays of α-galactose sugars from the parasite’s surface, which were shown to be recognized by Chagas antibodies in fluorescent immunoassays of the blood of infected patients. Mice immunised with the synthetic sugars also survived a lethal dose of the parasites for much longer than those who were not immunised, showing potential for the synthetic sugars to be used as vaccines.
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Topic world Antibodies
Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous
Topic world Antibodies
Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous