Tobacco As Medicine

By: Marisa Patel

Author: BMC Biotechnology
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090318211236.htm

Summary:
      The scientists at European research centers, led by Professor Mario Pezzotti at the University of Verona, created a transgenic tobacco plant in order to create a chemical that that could kill diseases. The transgenic bacteria produced  biologically-active interleukin-10 (IL-10), a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine. They used two different forms of IL-10 (one from a virus and one from a plant) in order to create the protein that could effect three different cell compartments. The researchers concluded that the transgenic tobacco could effectively create both types of active cytokines in order to kill many autoimmune diseases. The researchers are not testing whether it is true that repeated uses of the transgenic tobacco can prevent type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).  They would prescribe that along with the auto-antigen 65-kDa which is part of the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase which is present in the transgenic tobacco plant. The researchers believe transgenic plants are very beneficial because they can create a mass production at a low cost and low maintenance. Another advantage is that the medicine does not need purification, it can simply be eaten, which reduces cost and raises the simplicity. 

Connection:
     This connects to our previous unit of molecular genetics. The transgenic tobacco plant is the medicine that can prevent diseases such as type 1 diabetes. The tobacco has to be genetically modified in order to make it purified and be effective without having to do the same procedures used for traditional drug synthesis. We learned about genetically modified plants in Unit 6 when we did the labs looking for GMO genes. Using GMO does have its detriments, but it also has some benefits, as well.