Genetic engineering has an important role to play in the production of medicines. Microorganisms and plant-based substances are used for producing various drugs, vaccines, enzymes, and hormones at low costs. Genetic engineering involves the study of inheritance pattern of diseases in man and collection of human genes that provide a complete map for inheritance of healthy individuals.
Vaccines
Recombinant DNA technology is used for producing vaccines against diseases by isolating antigen or protein present on the surface of viral particles. Vaccines contain a form of an infectious organism that does not cause disease but allow the body immune system to form antibodies against the infective organism.When an individual receives vaccination against any viral disease, the antigens produce antibodies to act against and inactivate the viral profeins. The scientists with the help of recombinant DNA technology have transferred the genes for some viral sheath proteins to vecinia virus which was used against small pox. Vaccines produced by gene cloning are non-contaminated and safe as they contain only coat proteins against which antibodies are produced. Vaccines against viral hepatitis influenza, herpes simplex virus, virus-induced foot and mouth disease in animals are being produced by gene cloning.
Hormones
Insulin was commercially produced in 1982 through biogenetic or recombinant DNA technology. Its medicinal use was approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the USA in the same year. The human insulin gene has been cloned in large quantities in E. coli bacterium that can be used for synthesising insulin. Humilin is the commercially available genetically engineered insulin.
Lymphokines
Lymphokines are proteins regulating the immune system in the human body. u. Interferon is an example of lymphokines that are used to fight viral diseases (such as hepatitis, herpes, and common cold) and cancer. Such drugs can be manufactured in large quantities in bacterial cells. Lymphokines are also helpful in AIDS. Interleukin-II is a commercially available genetically engineered substance that stimulates the multiplication of lymphocytes.
Somatostatin
Somatostatin is used in some of the growth related abnormalities. This drug appears to be species specific and the polypeptide obtained from other mammals has no effect on humans, hence it is extracted from the hypothalamus of cadavers. Genetic engineering has helped in the chemical synthesis of gene which is joined to the PBR 322 plasmid DNA and cloned into a bacterium. This transformed bacterium is converted into a somatostatin synthesising factory.
Production of Blood Clotting Factors
Blockage of coronary arteries by cholesterol or blood clots causes heart attack. Plasminogen is a substance found in blood clots. Genetically engineered tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) enzyme is used to dissolve these clots in individuals who have suffered heart attacks.
