Jasmine: pValac

So today I have a presentation in my biology lab. We were to choose an article from somewhere and then present that article so that people with very little biology knowledge could understand what was being talked about. Finding the article was simple, trying to make words like adenalation and transfection into humanspeak is slightly less so.

So my article was called a new plasmid vector for DNA delivery using lactococci. after reading the article I find that this title is actually a very accurate summary.

The purpose of the researchers was to find a safer way to deliver specific DNA sequences into human cells. They targeted "mucosal epithelium," which means the lining of the digestive system and other various organs. They chose this because it is usually the first thing in the body to come into contact with various illnesses, and their ultimate goal is to use this DNA carrier as a vaccine that your own cells will produce.

Plasmids are what bacteria use to deliver DNA between eachother, sort of a little pod of DNA they send off into the world. Previously when they used bacteria they used somewhat dangerous ones like salmonella which could suddenly give you salmonella. Lactococci causes the fermentation of cheese, and in humans lactic acid build up. less dangerous. Other things they used to make their plasmid were herpes and E coli...

They tested it using a gene origionally found in jellyfish that glows green when placed under blue light. and it worked great in the lining of pig kidneys, somewhat less great in the lining of human intestines. but it worked well enough to warrent further experimentation.

I thought this was pretty interesting and so I shared it with all of you guys.