Biomedical Technique and cell Biology - Lab Report Example

Cell Biology 1 Biomedical Technique and cell Biology Cell Biology 2 Three application of mammalian cell culture in bio-medical science . Cells are micro organisms comprises a nucleus, and other nutrients. An animal and a plant cell differ according to the structure and plant cells differ widely by the presence of chloroplast which helps them during photosynthesis. Now a days technology in biomedical and biochemical fields have introduced the culturing of cells, which helps them a lot in variety of applications such as therapeutics and vaccinations. In fact vaccination was the first and foremost cell culture application found out. Cell Culture involves growing of cells under controlled conditions to get the result of multiplicity of divisions in an effective manner. Animal or plant cells have the tendency to grow if they are kept under specific conditions and grown with the required and exact nutrients that are suitable for growth. If this kind of process is carried out under laboratory supervision it is called as cell culture. Chaudry, Arshad [2004] has to say that “the culture process allows single cells to act as independent units, much like micro organism such as bacterium or fungus…these cells an continue to grow until limited by some culture variable such as nutrient depletion”. Generally speaking a cell culture is carried out with the intentions of either to study the metabolic activity, or to analyze the effect of chemicals and medicine on the cell types. There are many applications of the cell culture among them the prominent would be that of [i] producing antibodies, [ii], producing virus vaccines and [iii], producing recombinant protein. Cell Biology 3 [i]. Producing antibodies: One of the antibodies that is produced using cell culture is the monoclonal antibodies. These anti bodies are very useful in treating human diseases. This could be done by obtaining hybridoma cells from animals. The fusion of two to three more cells of hybrid form derived from animals is capable of producing a single type of antibodies in a continuous fashion. These anti bodies are further useful in diagnostic and therapeutic value. Now a days some bio technicians tried analyzing the activities of the amino acids in the typical mammalian cells. [ii]. Recombinant proteins: these are huge and complex structure proteins that could be produced in bacteria, which later develop the tendency to add sugar to these collected protein. In this method the defensive protein is produced in virto through recombinant method and applied for blistered skin. This is called protein therapy. This could be also applied in correcting deficiency like diabetes, enhance immune response, dissolve blood clots etc. This was done previously by culturing extracts form tissues, urine and blood. Miller. M. William [2003] has noted the following 1. Bacteria are easier and less expensive to grow and produce more protein 2. all bacteria protein processing steps occur in the cytoplasm 3. recombinant proteins often occur in bacteria inclusion bodies 4. animals have special compartment and signals for secreted proteins” [ii]. Virus Vaccinations: The basic cause for the vaccines production werwe found to be the epidemics. One notable epidemic among that was polio. “Major epidemics of polio in the 1940s and 1950s promoted a lot of effort to develop an effective vaccine” says Cell Biology 4 Chaudry, Arshad [2004. He also adds the information that it was in 1949, polio vaccines were found out that it could be grown in culture of human cells. The virus vaccines play a prominent role in the requirement of mammalian cell culture. Vaccines production is also applied for producing vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, flu etc. For production bacterial vaccines the serum or blood is sometime required for culture media. The UCCAA [2006] has noted that “The production of a viral is broadly similar to that of a bacterial vaccine, involving seed lot, purification, concentration and packaging, followed by freeze-drying. Viruses are propogated in cells of animals or human origin. In the past, viruses were cultured in vivo as in the production of smallpox virus on the brain of mouse. Since 1949, primary cell cultures have largely been produced using virto methods” These types of culture are used for different purposes and the advantages as we would have guessed that diagnosis of diseases will lead to easy way of analyzing the treatment for the disease. And the vaccinations are highly helpful, as there is enormous improvement in polio control through out the world. One more major advantage would be steady results could be achieved through this culture. And the reproductivity is obtained soon. The production of vaccines seemed to be one of the successful methods in cell culture applications as vaccines have reduced the chances of diseases during epidemics and saves the future generation. The production of cell culture outcomes through virto methods seem to be better than vivo methods as virto methods do not apply animal serums or blood samples for production. Cell Biology 5 The disadvantage would be that the characteristic features of the cell developed under laboratory conditions are found to have the ability to change or show changes [from what they had been at the time of starting the culture methods] after a certain period of growth. Next thing would be that the cells are allowed to grow in artificial environment, this could be another guessing that, if the proper monitoring and specific nutrients, required temperature conditions, the pH levels maintenance are missed the effect or result might not be achieved. And very important thing would be if improper sterilization is maintained the cells under culture will get contaminated easily. The pH level has to be maintained in correct proportion, as the cells have the tendency to develop in confluence, if they will always be under development in the cultural flask, they might grow in a circular fashion which is not a healthy symbol. And more over constant monitoring need to be applied as contamination will lead to the cells under culture. Quality control is yet another point that has to be maintained during cell cultures. If quality control in the production of either proteins, vaccines or antibodies is infected it leads to the death of the human beings. As the cell culture products are used in curing diseases, the infected would lead to worst effects. Like what UCCAA [2006] has noted “thirteen children died in 1901 from tetanus, after receiving doses of diphtheria antitoxin which had been prepared from horse serum contaminated with the tetanus bacilli’ The cost of culturing also has becomes Cell Biology 6 very high. This might also be considered as one of the disadvantages. To avoid confluence it is better to shift the cells once it obtains considerable growth. But recently many new techniques have come about in cell culture methods such as that of 2. The Cell Biology of Extracellular Matrix Animal cells lack rigid cell wall, but most of the cells in the tissues are surrounded in a sticky layer of glycoproteins called the “Extracellular Matrix”. The Extracellular Matrix is an elaborate covering outside animal cell membranes. The major ingredients of Extracellular Matrix are glyocoprotiens secreted by the cells. The most abundant glycoprotein in the Extracellular Matrix is collagen which forms strong fibers outside the cell together and can also have a protective and supportive function. Tissues are made up of cells in which most part of its volume is extracellular space compound matrix . this is composed of a variety of proteins, polysaccharides in close association of the cell surface [Glossary 2006].The Extracellular Matrix is a complex network of polysaccharides and proteins secreted by cells, serves as a structural element in tissues and also influences their development and physiology. The extra cellular matrix determines the living environment for the cells where as the cells look after the properties of the matrix. Variations in types of macromolecules and the way in which they are organized in matrix give rise to an amazing diversity of forms. Each adapted to the functional requirements of the particular tissue. In animals cells matrix cells becomes calcified and form hard structures of teeth. And it controls the cell behavior. And to b more precise the bone contains a mass of matrix in it. Cell Biology 7 The cytoskeleton is a like a skeleton for the cytoplasm. It determines the shape and motion of the cells. WIkiepedia.edu [2006] defines that “Cytoskeleton plays an important role in both inter-cellular transport and cellular division”. It is the fibrous proteins present in the cytoplasm. It controls the internal movements of the structures inside the cell. The diseases that are caused due to the dysfunction of cytoskeleton and matrix are osteogenesis imperfecta or bone disorder which is caused by the improper function of the collagen gene by mutation. Danlos syndrome, which occurs due to decrease in tensile strength. Chondrodysplasias , caused due to dysfunction of mutation etc. Epidermolysis Bullosa is also a disease that comes through genes present in the cells. It is a kind of disease that has the tendency to pass form parent to child. It forms the keratin in the cells of the skin and as a result the skin develops blisters, a symptom for defect in collagen present in the cells, which is called Epidermolysis Bullosa. However nutritional supplements and proper testing of the fetus, advice on family planning could reduce the risk of this disease developing. Similarly muscular dystrophy is also another gene inherited disease that comes due to abnormal development of muscle protein called dystrophin. This is also due to the defects found in the cell cytoplasm. Both these diseases could be prevented through gene therapy, a type of cell culture application. 3. The journey of lysosomes enzymes: The lysosomes play an important role in degrading the cells into the garbage. Its main concern is to decay the wornout organelles such as mitochondria and products of endocytosis. “ Harms.E [2006] has noted that “lysosomes drgrade almost any type fo Cell Biology 8 physiological macromolecule . A storage disease will result either from a missing degradation step or from defective release of the degradation product”. http://www.fao.org/Wairdocs/ILRI/x5550E/x5550e0f.htm#TopOfPage b. Gaucher disease is of a genetic inherited disease. So the people affected would be definitely either from a particular community or family or country. So it becomes clear that only those with genetic factors would show symptoms of this disease. Literatures say that people who are either from Eastern and Central parts of Europe and or of Jewish origin might have more chances of developing these symptoms. While looking from this angle Micheal et al might have restricted his study only with a few people who could have been from either of these mentioned groups or from an ethnic community. So the chances of more number of patients could be very less. If there is limited number of patients it would be very difficult to review the pathogenesis of the disease. And moreover the results obtained from this limited study should be considered only as a partial evidence. The study of the disease would also become limited to come to a final resolutiuon. c. I would recruit people from either of the mentioned groups or select people from ethnic community, which has people from Jewish or European origin, and particularly pregnant women should be considered first, as this has been proved to be genetic oriented disease. Since the symptoms are apparent such as skeletal disorders [resulting in disfigure] , seizure etc, it becomes easy to recruit people having such apparent signs. Cell Biology 9 d. The study of Micheal shows that enzyme therapy would help a lot in decreasing the liver spleen size and reduce skeletal anomalies. It also reverses other disorders. Genetic counseling might be of come use since it involves a lot of educating process, which might work out well for the upcoming generation. Though bone marrow transplantation could help a lot in reversal of this disease some people cannot afford to pay for the surgery. So concerned cake providers should be consulted and financial assistance could be arranged further. c.Goucher disease might lead to depression, as the skeletal disorder leads to change in normal shape of the human body structure. So people with this problem feel a bit conjusted to move freely in the society. They should be brought to the social meetings to make them know the process of awareness going on to reduce the further risk of this disease. Healthy diets should be prescribed for children who suffer from this disease. Prenatal diagnosis is suggested for women who are pregnant, by taking a sample of amniotic fluid is taken from the fetal and deducted whether it also develops this symptom . So that in future this could be prevented for the fetus. References: Harms.E. “Understanding Human Lysosomal Disease: A Review”. Online available from http://www.fao.org/Wairdocs/ILRI/x5550E/x5550e0f.htm#TopOfPage Miller. M. William [2003] “Production of Recombinant Protein in Microbial and Animal Cell Culture”.online available from http://www.chem-biol-eng.northwestern.edu/cq/miller.pdf Cycloskeleton .online available from http://en.wikiepedia/topic/cytoskeleton University of California Center for Animal Alternatives.The Mouse in Science :Vaccines. Online available from http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/Animal_Alternatives/vaccines.htm Chaudry, Arshad [2004] “Cell Culture” online available from The Science Creative Quarterly http://www.scq.ubc.ca/?p=336 Read More