We at Novus Biologicals have over 350 products devoted to infectious disease research in our antibody catalog. In 2002, the World Health Organisation report stated 25.9% of all deaths worldwide were attributable to infections; the top killers being lower respiratory disease and the HIV/AIDS virus.
However, virology has also crept into other areas, such as cancer research. This has been the case with the adenovirus, which was used to create the world’s first anti-cancer gene therapy (Gendicine) even though antibody studies have shown it to be expressed in certain tumours itself.
Further, antibody research into the use of the adenovirus as a therapeutic tool has been thwarted owing to lack of knowledge about the virus’ complex structure. Now, a team of scientists at the Scripps Research Institute have unraveled its structure to its most fundamental level. Twelve years of research was rewarded after the team switched to a new type of x-ray crystallography.
Like all viruses, the adenovirus disassembles in the cell nucleus, releasing viral DNA which is then replicated in a two-stage process. During the early stage, the gene causes expression of regulatory proteins, which allow synthesis of viral DNA and prevent early cell death.
Antibody studies have shown the adenoviral product E1A to be expressed in tumours, due to its interaction with the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor protein and TGF beta, a growth inhibitor. However, the adenovirus’ unique properties (its’ DNA exists as an independent double-helix, rather than being incorporated into the host’s natural DNA, and it mimics gene action) led to it being developed for gene therapy.
Of the 350 products devoted to infectious disease that we at Novus Biologicals have in our antibody database, over 230 are devoted to virology. We have several adenovirus antibodies which, following this latest research will no doubt prove very useful in developing cancer treatments in the future.
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