No More Allergies?

Today, more than 150 million Europeans suffer from chronic allergic diseases. Up to 20% of patients with allergies live with a severe debilating form of their condition, and struggle daily with the fear of a possible asthma attack or even death from an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, the exact causes of such diseases are not known yet, which makes it extremely difficult for scientists to develop a cure.

An allergy can be defined as a misguided reaction to foreign substances, usually harmless, by the immune system. These substances are called allergens and examples are pollen, dust mites, food, medicines, etc.

As I am allergic to many things, I know how irritating and painful an allergic reaction can be. Besides coughing and sneezing, most people, including myself, also suffer from swollen itchy eyes and allergic eczema. Unfortunately, up until today, there are only medicines available that mitigate the pain.

However, there might be a remedy in the future since scientists at VIB-UGent have managed to unravel the functioning of what is thought to be the ‘master protein’ that drives a range of widespread allergic diseases, such as asthma and eczema. Professor Savvides explained that the protein TSLP, causes inflammation of the white blood cells, which eventually can lead to an allergic disease. Since they now know how TSLP functions in the body, Professor Beyaert was able to develop a molecule that inhibits the functioning of TSLP and thus it  functions as an allergy inhibitor.

Now they are still working on the development of the medicine, but they hope to sell the medicine within 10 years. One thing is sure, if this medicine works, millions of patients will be grateful to Professor Savvides and Professor Beyaert.

Animal Testing

Every year, an estimated 26 million animals are used in the United States for scientific and commercial testing. Dogs, fish, mice, rabbits, … are used to develop medical treatments and to determine the toxicity of medications and other biomedical, commercial and health care uses.

Testing cosmetics on animals is, in my opinion, cruel and inhuman. We can all live without mascara, foundation, lipstick,… so why should we let an animal suffer for our luxurious lifestyle?! Nowadays, many alternative tests were developed without the use of animals. Human Skin Model tests, Hen’s Egg Test Membrane and Slug Mucosal Irritation assays are examples of such alternative developments. Additionally, the introduction of the 7^th Amendement Cosmetics Directive in Europe only led to a greater need for alternatives because it prohibits the testing of cosmetics or cosmetic ingredients on animals. 

However, animal testing has contributed to a big progress in understanding and treating conditions such as breast cancer, brain injury, childhood leukemia, cystic fibrosis, malaria, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, and many others. Animal research allows us to investigate the effects of a new drug on the homeostasis, the interactions between different cells and tissues and its absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.

Unfortunately, replacing animal research by validated alternatives is not that simple due to the difficult simulation of physiological conditions. So the question we have to ask ourselves is: “Is it worth it?”. Well, in this case my answer is yes. Animals do not have the cognitive ability or moral judgment that humans do and they often make better research subjects than human beings because of their shorter life cycles.

Animal testing is not a crime to me as long as there is no unnecessary pain inflicted and there is a real possibility of benefit to human beings. More information can be found by clicking on the URL-link below.

http://animal-testing.procon.org/#arguments

The Dark Side of Antibiotics

Do you know the saying that sometimes you have to feel worse in order to get better? Well, I was told that several times and I have to admit that they are mostly right. Antibiotics or other kind of drugs can make you feel sicker but finally you will feel better. Unfortunately the latter isn’t always the case anymore.

Although antibiotics have been the gold standard for treating bacterial infections since the development of penicillin, they still should be used with caution. Many people are not aware of the fact that frequent, long-term use and misuse (for example not finishing the course) can lead to antibiotic resistance and therefore some people can’t be helped anymore when they are sick. In order to avoid the latter, new antibiotics or strategies are being developed.

A Dutch biotech company is taking machinery from bacteria-killing viruses, called phages, and is using it to target the medically important bug Staphylococcus aureus.

In order to cure the host, newly formed phages degrade components of the bacterial cell wall using enzymes, called endolysins. Once the cell wall is breached, the contents of the cell spill out and consequently, the bacterium dies. A serious advantage is the fact that researchers state that resistance is very unlikely to occur because phages work independently from the host’s metabolism.

Personally, I am not a big fan of antibiotics or medicine in general because I think that sometimes it is just better to rest. Many people already go to the doctor when they just have a cold and then the doctor prescribes them a syrup or another kind of drug. But this way their immune system doesn’t get the chance to “fight” the bacteria themselves leading eventually to a compromised immune system and therefore they will be more susceptible for bacteria.


So people, when you are just having a cold or you are feeling queasy do not immediately take a drug to get better. Instead try to rest, to eat some citrus fruits and to avoid stress, sugar and saturated fats. This will strengthen your immune system.

Green plastics, the beginning of something new

Imagine walking on the beach. The sun is shining, everyone is having fun but then someone gets hurt because he or she stepped in a sharp piece of plastic. It may seem very exaggerated but this will happen very often in the near future unless something changes.

I’m sure that every one of you knows that pollution by plastic is a global problem. But nevertheless, I’m also convinced that most of you won’t pick up an empty bottle, or any other kind of plastic, and throw it in the appropriate garbage can. This attitude will eventually lead to animal death and finally also to an unpleasant environment to live in.

We scientists created these polluting plastics, so it’s our task to think about renewable ones and alternative raw materials that can be used to develop them.

One of the newest discoveries in this research field is the development of a renewable plastic from a chemical that is called pinene. Pinene is the fragrant chemical from the terpene family and is responsible for the distinctive “Christmas smell” of pine trees. A significant advantage is the fact that pinene is a waste product from the paper industry and now can be turned into something useful instead of being thrown away. Sugar cane and corn are also interesting raw materials for the development of bio-based plastics. Researchers are hoping that this kind of plastic can be used in a great range of applications, including food packaging, plastic bags and even medical implants.

Other studies consist of syntheses of biodegradable polymers where Biopol (poly hydroxyl butyrate valerate), a copolymer containing β-butyrolacton and β-valerolacton and synthesized by a micro organism (Alkaligenes eutrophus), is a running project in Belgium.

Personally, I think this kind of research can be a step forward to a whole new generation of plastics whereby the impact on the environment will be enormous (but now, at least, in a good way).