Effects of Gene p53 the Tumor Repressor Essay -- Biology Cancer

Induction of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Antineoplasm Immunity with deoxyribonucleic acid Vaccines Expressing Single T Cell Epitopes, by Frank Ciernik, Jay A. Berzofsky, and David P. Carbone explores the uses of the gene submarine and how it can induce both humoral and cellular immunity. The paper specifically explores the effects of p53, a tumor repressor which gets its name from its molecular weight( p53 is a protein that has a molecular weight of 53). It is tremendously important because fifty percentage of known cancer types stem from a mutation in this gene. A Brief History of ImmunizationVaccines came about some 200 days ago when Jenner discovered that if someone caught a mild case of variola vaccine they would not get smallpox.In 1879, another scientist, Louis Pasteur, accidentally discovered the vaccine for fowl cholera by leaving cultures out in his laboratory. Later, Pasteur went on to develop an effective vaccine for rabies.The typhoid and cholera vaccines were produ ced by Wilhelm Kolle in 1896.The groundwork for tetanus and diptheria toxid vaccines was laid by Emil von Behring and Emile Roux in the early twentieth century.In 1955, the polio vaccine, developed by Jonas Salk, was licensed.The Contagious and Non-Contagious Infectious Diseases Sourcebook estimates that a vaccine for chickenpox developed by Merrick Sharp Dohme will briefly be available. ADVANTAGESThere are many advantages to using gene immunisation rather than protein immunization. For example, it is more effective at inducing cellular and humoral responses than protein. More importantly, it is safer.By targeting only the desired epitope, this method of immunization avoids the introduction of unwanted responses. A current example of an unwelcome response would be... ... tumor cells in the mice. Modern Applications of Genetic ImmunizationThe implications of the proposed vaccines introduced by this research could be immense. Along with the advantages over traditional vaccines, t hey may be applicable to infective diseases of which no preventative measures are currently known. Effective immunization for infectious diseases could include innoculation fromBSE/ Cholera, Dengue, Ebola virus, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Hepatitis B, C viruses Herpes simplex virus, HIV, Influenza, Malaria, Meningitis-causing enteroviruses, villoma virus, Rabies virus, Tuberculosis, and Yellow Fever.In addition, DNA epitope vaccines may elicit defensive immune responses against cancer. Induced response against identified T cell epitopes including the forbidding of tumor growth could be the result of this break-through technology.