Mollusk Blood Could Cure Cancer

Researchers have recently found that an unusually large protein in the limpet’s hemolymph can invoke a strong immune response in humans. Substances similar to KLH, the protien in question, have been made. However, they carry unpleasant side effects. KLH on the other hand is non-toxic. If one were to put markers for a certain cancer on this protein, the body may grow immune to that specific protein, and therefore grow immune to that cancer. There are other applications with this as well. One can put chemicals found in drugs on this protein and create a treatment for drug users. Right now, the protien is too big and complicated to synthesize. So the only way to get is from the animal itself. This unfortunately kills the animal in the extraction process. Hopefully, there will be a new extraction process or a new way to synthesize proteins of this caliber in the future.

My Naughty Nurse

Killing Mosquitoes with Genetic Engineering

For the past several years, many new and creative ways have been devised to kill those pesky blood-suckers, from laser turrets to larval pesticide. Now, another killer has entered the scene. Some researchers have devised a simple, yet effective way to deal with these insects. They have found that the female mosquito produces a special enzyme to digest blood. So the scientists simply knocked out the gene with some handy ZFN (Zinc finger nulcease). Then they simply watched. Since the mosquito could no longer digest blood, the blood seeped through the stomach lining of the mosquito and into its body. That’s not a good thing, for mosquitoes that is. Within two days, 90% of the mosquitoes tested were dead. This could be a new effective way to deal with mosquitoes. The problem is that this method can only be applied to one mosquito at a time. Perhaps they could put this in a honeypot trap for the mosquitoes to ingest. Or incorporate it into the larval pesticide that dissolves in breeding grounds.

From Popsci