Singaporean Scientists Identify ‘Switch' to Body's First Line of Defense
May 18, 2012| |
Scientists from Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) under the Agency of Science, Technology, and Research in Singapore have discovered for the first time the "molecular ‘switch'" that is directly related to the body's primary protection against pathogens. Scientists say that the ‘switch' also called Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) activates the production of interferons when turned on. Interferons are a strong class of virus killers that allows the body to fight diseases like dengue and influenza.
Iinfluenza virus has high rates of mutation making it difficult to be treated with one universal drug and dengue has no approved vaccine. This new finding can be a step forward towards development of anti-viral drugs that may target the BTK ‘switch' to fight such pathogens.
To know more about this new discovery follow this link: http://www.a-star.edu.sg/Media/News/PressReleases/tabid/828/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1633/Default.aspx.
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