Protein Could Be Used To Treat Alcohol Effects On The Pancreas
In recent studies in the vast scientific field, scientists have discovered a protein that could be used to treat the dangerous effects alcohol has on the pancreas or an organ that releases a digestive substance to the intestines and also releases the hormone insulin which regulates blood sugar. More specifically, this discovery could help cure pancreatic cancer or a type of illness in which the pancreatic cells divide uncontrollably which is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in patients diagnosed with this disease. A vital protein, named calmodulin, is involved with the functions of cells in the body and scientists have found that when this protein is not present, cells obstruct at a very dramatic rate. Calmodulin is a protein that is significant with the jobs of calcium enzymes. When another protein named CALP-3 is activated and engaged, it turns on the calmodulin which helps to protect pancreatic cells from alcohol. When calmodulin is active, it is clearly seen that it helps prevent pancreatitis which is the inflammation of the pancreas. If more alcohol is consumed by a human being, then the risk of pancreatitis increases. The development of drugs could help cure this pancreatic cancer which has been incurable as of this present moment. This article is interesting because this one discovery could help save millions of lives and possibly end the quest in finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ that releases insulin which helps regulate the sugar levels. Well, when alcohol is consumed, concentrations of this substance are also found in the bloodstream. Therefore, if new drugs are also developed to fight this cancer, it could also combat the concentration of alcohol deadly to our blood system.
One quote that explains this article very well is, “The study team, led by Professor Ole Petersen in the MRC Group at Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, found that calmodulin protects pancreatic cells against alcohol’s toxic effects when it is activated by another small protein, CALP-3.” This quote basically states that when calmodulin is turned on and working, it prevents the pancreatic cells from rapidly dividing. When calmodulin is active, alcohol cannot destroy the cells because the protein already fights it off and this is actually good because it can prevent one organ from shutting down from alcohol.
APA Bibliography:
1) Cardiff University (2011, March 22). Protein could be used to treat alcohol effects on pancreas. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 2
Website URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110322114823.htm
Malaria Parasite Caught Red-Handed Invading Blood Cells
The main premise of the article I chose to do for my current event talks about how a malaria parasite or organism that harms a host cell is caught in the act of invading human blood cells. A team of Australian scientists came upon this important discovery using a mix of election (negatively charged particles), light, and super resolution microscopy’s or technology that basically enlarges the harmful organism so that it can be seen with greater detail. The scientists found that the parasite or organism that harms the host cell penetrates through the wall of the red blood cell and this has transformed the way the invasion of cells has been looked at for several years. The technology has provided scientists with a better outlook on how a harmful organism like a parasite operates during its invasion process. Scientists also claim that using the super resolution microscopy or a process that enlarges microscopic organisms can lead to the creation of new medicines which can treat malaria or even extend scientists’ understanding or microscopic or very tiny microbes. The harmful protozoan or one celled organism injects the red human blood cell with a window which it then opens and it gains access to the cell. Using this information, scientists can figure out possible vaccines that can rid of this disease.
The article is very interesting because malaria is still incurable and a breakthrough in investigating the harmful parasite can kill the harmful parasite and ultimately saves millions of lives worldwide. The new discovery can lead to the creation of medicines which in turn can help people provide immunity from the disease. It also broadens one’s understanding of viruses and other tiny organisms in the human body. I find it interesting that when the parasite or host enters the blood cell, it can make a window within the cell and gain access and do what it needs to do. Future research could be furthered in developing new effective medicines that can treat the common people. By reading this article, I have learned that advanced technology plays a vital role in understanding more about tiny little organisms and other fields of science. The technology can help to identify the structure and function of the invading parasite and look at in more detail.
One quote that is important in this article is when Dr. Baum says, “Super resolution microscopy has opened up a new realm of understanding into how malaria parasites actually invade the human red blood cell. Whilst we have observed this miniature parasite drive its way into the cell before, the beauty of the new imaging technology is that it provides a quantum leap in the amount of detail we can see, revealing key molecular and cellular events required for each stage of the invasion process.” The main idea of this entire article revolves around this one quotation. It says that because of the resolution microscopy, scientists have just broke new grounds and that it lets them see how cellular or cell events occur. It can also help them see bacteria and other harmful microbes in proper sequence. A second quote that is important in this article is when Dr. Baum also says, “Historically it has been very difficult to both isolate live and viable parasites for infection of red blood cells and to employ imaging technologies sensitive enough to capture snapshots of the invasion process with these parasites, which are only one micron (one millionth of a meter) in diameter.” This quote shows that it is now possible for scientists to further their studies.
Bibliography:
1) Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (2011, January 19). Malaria parasite caught red-handed invading blood cells. ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119125308.htm
Beyond the Walls in Biology 