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Health
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Title: Singapore scientists find new way to boost body's immune response
Source: [None]
URL Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/health/2012-05/11/c_131582591.htm
Published: May 11, 2012
Author: staff
Post Date: 2012-05-12 07:10:13 by Tatarewicz
Keywords: None
Views: 46
Comments: 1

SINGAPORE, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Scientists from Singapore's Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) -- which is part of the Agency of Science, Technology and Research -- have discovered a new way to boost the body's defense against infectious diseases, local TV Channel NewsAsia reported on Friday.

The scientists have identified for the first time the molecular "switch" which directly triggers the body's "innate immunity", or first line of defense against pathogens. This molecular "switch" is called Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK).When turned on, it activates the production of interferons -- a potent class of virus killers that enables the body to fight harmful pathogens, such as dengue and influenza viruses.

While there are anti-viral drugs to treat influenza, the high rates of mutation that are characteristic of the influenza virus have made it difficult to treat influenza with one universal drug or vaccine.

As for dengue, there are currently no clinically-approved vaccines or cures.

BTI said the discovery of BTK's role as a critical "switch" which boosts the body's anti-viral response paves the way for developing anti-viral drugs that target the BTK "switch" to fight infectious diseases.

The research team from BTI extracted a class of innate immune cells known as macrophages from both normal mice and from mice deficient in BTK and challenged them with the dengue virus. It found that the BTK-deficient immune cells were unable to produce interferons.

Hence, they had much higher viral counts, compared with the healthy immune cells that had high-levels of interferons to fight the virus effectively.

Professor Kong-Peng Lam, acting executive director of BTI and the head of the immunology group that conducted the research, was quoted as saying that the study adds new insights to the understanding of how the body's innate immunity is triggered to create an effective immune response.

It also shows how better understanding in basic biological systems can lead to more effective treatment strategies to combat deadly viral diseases. Editor: An [More] Related News

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#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)

Good news.

Doing the research that Americans won't do.

Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson

Lod  posted on  2012-05-12   10:26:00 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

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