Posted by:
WK
at Fri Jun 9 22:59:00 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by WK ]
Recall that DNA is a blueprint for making protein. The injected animals' cells use the injected DNA as a set of instructions to make proteins resembling important pieces of snake-venom proteins. The animals' immune systems recognize the proteins as foreign and mount an immunologic response which results in production of antibodies. One piece of injected DNA can be used over and over to make a protein so you don’t need as much DNA as you might think to get an appreciable protein amount.
That's how it should work, theoretically, but I'm sure there will be kinks to iron out before this sort of AV becomes a commercial reality. Still, it's an interesting idea that sounds like it could work.
Cheers,
WK
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RE: GBR Journal: New antivenom - WK, Fri Jun 9 22:59:00 2006