GMO viruses + bacteria + GMO tobacco likely saved Ebola patients

[SidDithers]

Oh, Sanjay Gupta.

Secret serum likely saved Ebola patients (warning: link has auto-play video, ugh)

Three top secret, experimental vials stored at subzero temperatures were flown into Liberia last week in a last-ditch effort to save two American missionary workers who had contracted Ebola, according to a source familiar with details of the treatment.

There was nothing top-secret about the experimental treatment given to the US Ebola patients.

The ‘secret serum’ is just a monoclonal antibody therapy for Ebola. Administering exogenous antibodies as a therapy for viral infections is an old-as-dirt idea.

ZMapp itself is a combination of the ‘best’ antibodies from MB-003 and ZMAb. How do I know this? Because this is information released by the company this July. And MB-003 and ZMAb are not exactly ‘secret’, seeing as they were published in two of the most high profile journals in the world, PNAS and Science.

What I think is super cool is how this therapy is made.

1a. Genetically modify a virus to encode the heavy chain of an anti-Ebola antibody. These antibodies are also genetically modified, btw, to not be as ‘mouse-like’ (they were initially produced in mice) and sometimes to be more ‘human-like’. Putting antibodies from other animals into humans without genetic modification can mean trouble.

1b. Genetically modify a virus to encode the corresponding light chain of the anti-Ebola antibody.

WHY??

When both of these viruses infect a cell, one viral genome will make half the anti-Ebola antibody, the other viral genome will make the other half of the antibody. Together, the two viruses will make the anti-Ebola antibody!

Very cool stuff. More sciency detail at link:
http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2014/08/04/gmo-viruses-bacteria-gmo-tobacco-likely-saved-ebola-patients/


Sid

[MohRokTah]

1. It makes me happy to see the true promise of bioengineering coming to fruition.

I like this application much better than the application where the inventing company is selling trainloads of herbicide.

[Archae]

2. "Secret Serum?"

Sounds like something out of Marvel or DC comic books.

But...

The anti-GMO hysterics will be along shortly...

[djean111]

3. You mean those patients are now Round-Up Ready? Wow!

I don't think anyone here considers all GMOs as the same damned thing, and you know it.

[SidDithers]

4. Dude. You've got Monsanto on the brain. Nowhere, and I mean no-fucking-where...

did I say anything about GMO food, or corn, or seeds, or Round-up, or Monsanto.

How about reading what I actually posted, instead of what you think I fucking posted.



Sid

[djean111]

5. I was speaking on behalf of the "anti-science" "Anti-GMO" people you were

taking a shot at in the OP title, and that the post above me is jeering at.
We just want to know if what we are eating has GMOs. That's all.

[SidDithers]

7. The OP title is directly copied from the science blog linked in the OP...

Which you would know, if you'd taken the time to read the post.

If you want to respond to the post above you, then respond to the post above you. The "and you know it" in your post was directed at me.

Jesus fucking Christ.

Sid

[Dr Hobbitstein]

11. Never fails...

Mention something pro-GMO, and the vast majority of the people opposing you keep talking about Monsanto and Round-Up.

[NuclearDem]

13. Every. Fucking. Time.

[Union Scribe]

6. Well, as long as they label the serum

so the patients with Ebola can make an informed decision about taking in any GMO product.

[SidDithers]

8. What's cool, too, is that Kent Brantly was going to let Nancy Writebol have the first dose...

but then needed it first, because he started to deteriorate more quickly. And it worked.

Brantly asked that Writebol be given the first dose because he was younger and he thought he had a better chance of fighting it, and she agreed. However, as the first vial was still thawing, Brantley’s condition took a sudden turn for the worse.

Brantly began to deteriorate and developed labored breathing. He told his doctors, “I am going to die,” according to a source with firsthand knowledge of the situation.

Knowing his dose was still frozen, Brantly asked if he could have Writebol’s now-thawed medication. It was brought to his room and administered through an IV. Within an hour of receiving the medication, Brantly’s condition was nearly reversed. His breathing improved; the rash over his trunk faded away. …

Writebol also received a vial of the medication. Her response was not as remarkable, according to sources familiar with the treatment. However, doctors on Sunday administered Writebol a second dose of the medication, which resulted in significant improvement.

From the CNN link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/04/health/experimental-ebola-serum/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
(again, autostart video with sound at that link)

Sid

[Union Scribe]

9. It's truly amazing progress

Such results within an hour. The researchers should get the Nobel.

[SidDithers]

10. The blog post in the OP is really interesting...

the method for making the serum is complex, with several really strange steps, but is apparently very scalable. They could make a lot of serum if they needed it.

Some very, very clever people are hard at work trying to find cures and vaccines for infectious diseases.



Sid

[MohRokTah]

14. I heard a CNN discussion where this will probably have application with other viruses

This could become a major breakthrough in the treatment of viral infections in general.

[moriah]

15. Gupta was going on quite a bit about this being the first human trials, basically.

We still don't know if it'll make you grow an extra appendage or whatever else people are afraid GMOs are going to do to them.

But if I was looking at near certain death, I'd roll the dice too.

[roody]

12. It is refreshing to see GMOs used for something good for people. nt

[HuckleB]

18. Actually, it has been used for lots of good things for people.

The baseless fear mongering that too many participate in does not change that.

[roody]

19. Feel free to give examples. nt

[HuckleB]

21. Here are a few:

http://fooducopia.com/blog/2012/09/the-unsung-benefits-of-gmo-foods/

[HuckleB]

22. More on the matter:

http://www.biofortified.org/2014/04/realizations-about-gmos/

[HuckleB]

23. I don't mean to spam, but this is a good piece on the matter.

AN ORGANIC FARMER AND A GENETICIST WALK INTO A FIELD
http://ensia.com/articles/an-organic-farmer-and-a-geneticist-walk-into-a-field/

Their book together, "Tomorrow's Table," is fantastic, as well.

[SidDithers]

16. Kicking on the news Dr Brantly is getting stronger...nt

Sid

[PasadenaTrudy]

17. Very cool!

Yeah science. Bitch!

My inner Jesse Pinkman had to come out...

[Wolf Frankula]

20. But.. But.. But. Medicine Has CHEMICALS In It

They should have homeopathic soup with the shadow of a pigeon that has died of starvation, and chiroquactic manipulations. Also they should give all their money to Pat Robertson, and he will PRAY for them!

That's all NATURAL!


Wolf