Antibodies

Mutating viruses helps produce antibodies

Scientists at the University of California reported that, a rapidly mutating gene in a virus that preys on bacteria may help lead to a new way to create artificial antibodies. This surprising mechanism may even be found in humans and other life, suggesting a new way of generating biological diversity.// Jeff Miller, author of this study, the viruses are a treasure trove of fascinating b...

Antibodies to fight HIV infection.

HIV is known to cause acute deficiency of immunity in man, a disease called AIDS.// Scientists are now convinced that a part of the body’s immunity system can and do fight back against the virus. The new research, which has come out in the journal Nature Medicine reveals, a small amount of body’s antibodies are successful in fighting and stalling the progress of HIV, although to a smal...

Monoclonal antibodies show promise in treatment of blood cancer

Immunologists at Duke University Medical Center have found that a new monoclonal antibody that targets immune system B cells could be a pioneering treatment for leukemias, autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection//. B cells are the main producers of antibodies, the body's defense mechanism against invading antigens. But the uncontrolled production of these B cells is responsible for...

Heparin Antibodies May Put Patients At Risk

Patients developing antibodies to heparin, an anti-clotting drug, run the risk of either serious complications after undergoing a heart surgery, or death, according to a new research // . The Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center’s professor of anesthesiology Thomas Slaughter said that the study aimed at finding out if an independent risk is posed by the development of heparin antibodies...

Hybrid antibodies to protect from small pox infection

Researchers Robert H. Purcell, NIAID's Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, and Bernard Moss, NIAID's Laboratory of Viral Diseases have developed a hybrid antibody// which is found to prevent and treat small pox virus infection. Though Small pox virus as been eradicated world wide, there is an increased fear over the use of small pox virus as a bioterrorism tool to kill people. Small pox...

Survival of Mice With Human Breast Cancer Extended by Monoclonal Antibodies

According to a study done by Kate Rittenhouse-Olson, Ph.D., the monoclonal antibody developed by researchers at the University at Buffalo has been shown to extend// significantly the survival of mice with human breast-cancer tumors. The study also finds that the antibody inhibits the cancer's spread to the lungs in the animals by more than 50 percent. The results of this study were publ...

Scientists Develop Antibodies from Plant Seeds

Researchers from Ghent University of Belgium, on Tuesday claimed that they have successfully produced antibodies using plant seeds. // According to the reports, the Belgium scientists have used seeds of a plant called thale cress (also called mouse-ear cress) to produce antibodies against the Hepatitis A Virus. This new development could help scientists produce more drugs that are effec...

Antibodies in Mother Affect Heart of Fetus

A study conducted in 100 pregnant women with anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies revealed development of heart problems in fetus that could be treated in early stages//. There is an increased risk of fetal heart problems when mothers carry particular antibodies associated with rheumatic diseases, according to an abstract presented by Yale School of Medicine researchers at the Society for M...

Bird Flu Antibodies Found in Migrant Birds in Siberia

Scientists have discovered bird flu antibodies in migrant birds in five Siberian regions, a spokesman for a veterinary regulator said here Tuesday . "Out of over 4,000 samples taken in the area this year, samples from 50 wild birds were found to contain genetic material of the A-H5 virus and antibodies in their blood serum," he said. The spokesman said the presence of...

Scientists Identify Antibodies That Block Human and Animal SARS Viruses

Scientists have for the first time identified human antibodies that can neutralise different strains of the virus responsible for the outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Working with collaborators from the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), scientists at the National Institutes of Health conducted in vitro experiments...