Silkworms used in antibodies research
A method of using silkworms to produce antibodies for pharmaceuticals and clinical reagents has been developed by japanese firm Nitto Boseki, and tested on mice.
A method of using silkworms to produce antibodies for pharmaceuticals and clinical reagents has been developed by japanese firm Nitto Boseki, and tested on mice.
Using a similar method, Nitto Boseki plans to introduce commercial technology to produce an antibody for humans in three years.
When antigens invade an animal, an antibody attacks them to prevent spreading. Artificially made antibodies, if combined with the body's natural immunising power, can be used to cure diseases.
Researchers have been working on using antibodies in cancer drugs.
The company claims that the cost of this antibody production method is only one tenth that of conventional methods using cultured cells. Antibodies can also be made in mammal cells such as mice, but this is expensive.