Scientific Discoveries in Israel Sally Chemistry P 2

Scientific Discoveries in Israel Sally Chemistry, P. 2

DISCOVERIES IN ISRAEL… 1. Molecular Biology 2. Capsule endoscopy 3. Cancer research

• Molecular Biology: Israel • -In 1970, Prof. Michel Revel, molecular biologist and physician, began working on interferon, a human gene that acts as a natural defense of the human body against viruses. -By 1979, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Ares-Serono Group decided to open Interpharm, an Israeli subsidiary in Rehovot. -The company offered the money necessary to express human genes to reproduce interferon and to isolate beta interferon. - By 1981, Prof. Michel Revel discovered that interferon also modulates the immune system and he produced the beta gene.

Molecular Biology: Israel: Continued • -This beta gene, Beta-Interferon was able to treat with multiple sclerosis. It quiets down the immune system and reduces attacks by over 50%, and it also reduces the disease's progression rate. -It is estimated today that 80 percent of the estimated 700, 000 multiple sclerosis patients worldwide are treated with interferon, although there are three companies - including Interpharm - that make the gene. -Interferon-beta is not just for relapsing MS patients, its prescribed for patients with other types of the disease. -Currently, Prof. Michel Revel is working on combinational drugs that will repair the damage done to the nervous system.

Capsule Endoscopy: Israel -The capsule endoscopy procedure was invented by Gavriel Iddan, an Israeli electro-optical engineer, and after 20 years of work, Iddan signed a patent for capsule endoscopy inn 1997. -Capsule endoscopy procedures involve swallowing a video camera the size of a multivitamin, and allowing the video-imaging shell to glide through your digestive tract, transmitting images of your intestines to a data recorder worn around the waist, which are then downloaded onto a computer for examination.

Capsule Endoscopy: Israel: Continued -Capsule endoscopy procedures help to diagnose Crohn's, an inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and other small-intestine conditions. -More than 65, 000 patients worldwide have swallowed the M 2 A capsule -Gavriel Iddan and his associates are determined to create solutions for the entire gastrointestinal tract, including the large intestine and colon.

Cancer Research: Israel -Cancer research was introduced to Israel in the 1950 s by the Weizmann Institute. -One of Israel's first cancer-research discoveries was made by Prof. Isaac Birnbaum and Prof. Leo Sachs. They laid the foundation for differentiating between cancer cells and normal cells, and understanding the transformation of a normal cell into a cancerous cell. -While working on blood cells, Sachs discovered that cells have to "make decisions" about whether they will grow or differentiate more.

Cancer Research: Israel: Continued • -That early discovery led to other cancer-cell discoveries, including the properties, activities, and biology of the P 53, a protein that is central to cancer biology. -P 53 can be mutated in many human cancers because it instructs cells to stop proliferating and die, rather than mutate into cancerous cells. But when P 53 mutates, there is nothing to prevent cells from developing cancer. -The P 53 research led to more discoveries, such as a DNA repair mechanism that could allow cells to repair damage and reconstruct a normal gene from a damaged one.

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