A naukri.com initiative
Bioengineer
1w
89
Image Credit: Bioengineer
Gene Editing Demonstrates Lifespan Extension in Mouse Model of Prion Disease
- Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have achieved a significant breakthrough in the battle against prion diseases through innovative gene-editing techniques.
- Their pioneering study demonstrated that they could extend the lifespan of mice afflicted with a humanized version of prion disease by using base editing.
- This achievement marks a crucial milestone as there are no viable treatments available for these fatal neurodegenerative conditions that plague both animals and humans alike.
- The researchers targeted the prion protein, which is instrumental to the onset and progression of these diseases, and resulted in a reduction of prion protein levels in the brain by up to 60 percent.
- The novel base-editing technique holds promise as a one-time solution that could address various forms of prion disease, regardless of the underlying genetic mutations responsible for the affliction.
- Sonia Vallabh and Eric Minikel, the principal investigators of this study, have been on a personal mission to combat prion diseases since Vallabh’s mother succumbed to fatal familial insomnia.
- A key challenge that the researchers faced was the effective delivery of the base-editing technology to the target brain cells.
- Despite the promising nature of these findings, there is still considerable work to be done before this approach can be translated into clinical treatments.
- The groundbreaking study has also raised important questions about the ethical considerations surrounding gene editing technologies.
- The excitement surrounding this work reflects a broader optimism regarding the future of genetic medicine, bringing us one step closer to effective treatments for previously untreatable conditions.
Read Full Article
5 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app