Plantibodies-"plenty Roles"

PLANTIBODIES – “PLENTY ROLES” !!!

INTRODUCTION:

 The term "plantibodies" was created to describe the products of plants that have been genetically engineered to express antibodies and antibody fragments in planta, with many applications. Antibodies were first produced in tobacco plants, Smith, 1986. Plants are being used in this technology as antibody factories, using their endomembrane and secretory systems to produce large amounts of clinically viable proteins which can later be purified from the plant issues. The purified antibodies have many possible applications, for example, as diagnostic tools, in immunochromatography or in medical therapy.

The prerequisites for plantibody production are:-

 Ø Cloned genes encoding specific antibodies

 Ø Effective regulatory signals for gene expression in the target plant

Ø Transformation

Ø Selection procedures for the plants

Plants offer several advantages over other systems for the production of antibodies. They are:-

1) Protein production in plants is cheaper than using fermentation systems. 2) Large-scale production of plants and plant parts such as seeds, is well established 3) Plant storage organs, such as seeds and tubers, can serve as storage systems for the antibodies. 4) Processing of plant material for extraction of food components is widely used. 5) Purification of antibodies is simplified where the plant is a normal human food, since the likelihood of hazardous contaminants is reduced. 6) No contaminated virus or organisms occur in plants that could be transmitted to people. 7) Plants can produce antibodies in large amounts and in stable form through targeting expression to specific compartments in the cell, such as chloroplasts or endoplasmic reticulum.

APPLICATIONS:-

1)TOXIN-SMELLING FOOD WRAP DEVELOPED: The developers of a Canadian-made, bio-chemical plastic wrap which can generate an image or message over any contaminated food product, called Biowrap, and created by Toxin Alert, a Toronto-area company, the plastic wrap uses a protein-based, anti-body detection system to measure the level of toxins in food. This antibody attracts the pathogens that cause 90 percent of all food poisoning -- listeria, E. coli O157:H7, salmonella and campylobacter. The resulting reaction then triggers a vegetable-based dye molded into the wrap in the shape of an X, or any other symbol or word warning.

2) TREATMENT OF DENTAL CARIES: CaroRx™ Planet produced the world's first clinically tested Plantibody, CaroRx™. It binds specifically to Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that cause tooth decay, and prevents the bacteria from adhering to teeth. CaroRx™ is currently undergoing Phase II U.S. clinical trials under a U.S. FDA-approved Investigational New Drug (IND) application. The first step in the use of CaroRx™ is to professionally clean the teeth with a commonly used oral antiseptic, and is immediately followed by applying CaroRx™ to the teeth several times over a two-week period. No further treatments are required for 6 months to 1 year. In a published clinical trial the Plantibody was compared to the IgG antibody from which it was derived (mouse Guy’s 13 IgG).

 3) IN MAMMALS: JIC’s George Lomonossoff and colleagues in Spain and Italy have succeeded in making a plant produce antibodies which provide piglets with immunity to a transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) when supplied orally. They have engineered Cowpea Mosaic Virus (CPMV) to produce antibody derivatives which can neutralise TGEV. CPMV infects the leaves of the cowpea plant but is non-infectious to animals. On infection with the modified virus, the host plant accumulates high levels of the antibody derivative. Feeding crude plant extract in the piglets’ milk protects them against intestinal TGEV infection. Furthermore, there is also a significant decrease in the amount of virus in the lungs. Similar systems could therefore be used as methods for producing passive immunization against other diseases. The virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is similar to TGEV; the viral vector system could be used to quickly generate large amounts of material to provide immediate protection to healthcare workers.

4)IN PLANTS: Tobacco engineered to express ScFv`s against the Beet necrotic yellow vein virus gave partial protection to the virus. Full length anti- TMV antibodies gave decreased viral necrotic lesions. ScFv`s engineered against artichoke mottled crinkle virus gave decreased infection and delayed symptoms.

FEW MORE..... The availability of genetically modified plant-derived pharmaceuticals is growing. In 2006, there were a number of clinical trials in humans using such materials. For example: • A gastric lipase produced from maize is being evaluated in a phase II trial for the treatment of cystic fibrosis • A drug for the treatment of traveller’s diarrhoea from maize is in phase I • A hepatitis B vaccine from potato is now in phase I Furthermore, in February 2006 the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new vaccine for the treatment of Newcastle disease in poultry from non-nicotine plant cells.

How to Control ADHD Impulsive Aggression in Children

In ADHD impulsive aggression can be a troubling, yet all too common, symptom.  While some children who suffer from ADHD will seem withdrawn and unable to maintain concentration, others will be more impulsive and prone to striking out at those around them.  This can make every day life, particularly participating in social activities, a real ordeal.


Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, can manifest itself in many different ways.  Symptoms can include everything from lack of concentration, hyperactivity, and distractibility to impulsiveness and lack of inhibition.  Generally, when it comes to ADHD aggression is the most difficult symptom to deal with but it can be managed in the same way other symptoms are treated.


Most of us have the ability to control aggressive behavior, but in some children with ADHD impulsive aggression becomes a problem because the area of their brain that controls such behavior does not function properly.   For these children, there simply is no “off button” for anger and aggression.  What would be mundane annoyances for most of us can set off extreme, even dangerous, fits of temper in ADHD kids.


For many children with ADHD aggression can become a part of every day life.  They may actually enjoy engaging in risky behavior and even look for conflict and they will likely display a greater than usual lack of patience.  If things don’t go their way they can erupt into fits of anger and even lash out physically.  They may also have difficulty controlling their speech, blurting out insults or foul language.


As difficult as it may be to accept as part of ADHD impulsive aggression is definitely a common symptom and children who exhibit this behavior need the same kind of patience and support as any other ADHD child.  Behavioral therapy, dietary changes and the use of homeopathic remedies can all have a positive effect in terms of controlling aggression and impulsive tendencies.


Standard stimulant based medications can actually make ADHD aggression worse, so there is even more reason to avoid them if your child displays these behaviors.  Removing natural stimulants like sugar from the diet and having the child use behavioral management techniques like focused learning and yoga can have a calming effect and enable the child to better control his concentration.


Homeopathic remedies work more effectively than anything else to control the symptoms of ADHD impulsive aggression because they are formulated with proven ingredients like Hyoscyamus, Arsen iod, Tuberculinum.  Rather than just suppressing symptoms, these remedies address the neurological imbalance which causes the disorder, for more thorough and long lasting results.   And they carry none of the serious side effects of standard medications.


ADHD can be a difficult condition to deal with, especially when it manifests in impulsive or aggressive behavior, but it does not have to take over your child’s life.  With the right treatment, even the most disruptive forms of ADHD can be controlled, allowing ADHD children to lead happy, productive lives.  So don’t be scared away by your child’s aggression, find a treatment which works and you can all start feeling happy again.

Ritalin "Kiddie Cocain"

Ritalin, as classified by the D.E.A. (Drug Enforcement Agency) is a Schedule II narcotic "the same classification as cocaine". Doctors prescribe this medication for children. Children, as we are all aware of have currently developing brains. This medication, commonly known as "Kiddie Cocaine" is extremely harmful to developed as well as undeveloped neurological issues. In some schools, as much as 20% of the students are prescribed Ritalin.

There are both short-term and long-term side effects of the harmful medication.

Short-term Effects:

    Cardiac problems
    Insomnia issues
    Nervousness issues
    Possible hallucinations
    Suicidal thoughts
    Aggression issues
    Psychotic behavioral issues

Long-term Effects:

    Dependency
    Possible future drug abuse issues
    33% of child anorexia issues are related to the drug as well.
    In a Texas State study, it was found that in a 3-month period, 1 in 12 children had a genetic associated increase risk of cancer.


Frequently, insurance companies cover only costs of "traditional" treatments such as p.c.p. (Primary Care Physicians) or medication costs. Many Americans are mesmerized by the "quick fix" solutions offered by doctors by way of medications. That said, Americans are more apt to take a pill for medical issues rather than attempt an alternate method or holistic approach.

Stated by CBSNEWS, dated January 18, 2001:

    A powerful prescription has gotten into the wrong hands-children’s hands.
    They’re taking this (Ritalin) to get up in the daytime and get their schoolwork done, or just to fit in the crowd, to be cool.
    One of the DEA’s most tightly controlled drugs, Ritalin, has the agency worried since it’s easy to get and kids believe it’s safe.
    The DEA is set to distribute a pamphlet to school warning about potential Ritalin abuse and recommending tight storage and supervision to stem the problem. One company is developing another safeguard - a skin patch for slow release of the drug.

3 Questions every Concerned Parent MUST Ask about their Child's Attention Disorder

The statistics connecting psychiatric drugs to tragedies such as school and family violence, depression, and even suicide are both alarming and troubling.  Parents cannot afford to place the responsibility of their child's well-being solely in the hands of the doctor. The more questions you ask, the more you will know.

1. What Specific Tests are used to diagnose Attention Disorders?

Simply basing a diagnosis on behavioral symptoms alone can have disastrous consequences because behavior in itself cannot be used to diagnose disease or disorder. Many children are diagnosed as having an attention disorder solely on observation of their behaviors, such as: not paying attention in class, fidgeting, speaking off topic, not performing well in school, etc.  These behaviors are not necessarily signs of a disorder.

For example, if you were sitting in a classroom listening to an instructor speak in a language that you did not know, you would eventually get rather bored. You might display signs that you were not paying close attention. But the fact is that you are not able to understand the information being discussed. Many children who do not have adequate vocabulary skills may exhibit these behaviors, but it is not due to an attention disorder, per se, but rather a lack of vocabulary with which to follow what is being said.  It is like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoon saying "Waaah waahh waah..." The child is not paying attention because to them the words being spoken are meaningless and thus they seem uninterested.

2. Are there any Tests to show that attention disorders are in fact caused by a chemical imbalance?

Many psychiatrists and pharmaceutical companies will tell parents that attention disorders are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, and that therefore the solution to your child's problem is medication.  However there are no studies that actually support this claim and there are actually many scientific studies that show quite the opposite.

In fact the assertion that attention disorders stem from chemical imbalance is an assumption derived from the very real fact that some chemicals (such as LSD) can cause mental imbalance. Therefore the unproven theory is that some chemicals may correct imbalances in brain chemistry. However this extrapolation has yet to be backed up by any actual evidence.

3. What Chemical Tests show that prescribed medication will not cause adverse Side-Effects?

Most people have friends and relatives who are being prescribed medication for attention disorders without any test being performed to show that there would be little risk of harmful side-effects.  When side-effects begin to show (which they inevitably will), the doctor will simply begin prescribing more medications (referred to as "cocktails", yes, like the drinks you buy in a bar) to "counter-balance" the side-effects, with some children and adults ending up having to take 20 or more other medications just to suppress side-effects.

The problem is that each new drug comes with its own risk of side-effects.  The theory being that if one combine enough drugs together then hopefully they will mix to just the right concoction for the individual.  However, although safety research is done on each single drug, no research has been done on the effects of mixing these drugs, and yet the majority of psychiatric evaluations result in the prescription of these 'drug cocktails'. Sadly, the cocktails one can get in their local bar are designed with more precision than the ones doctors are prescribing (at least we know what effect the drinks will have).

Well-known and recorded side-effects of popular attention drugs such as ritalin, adderall, risperdal (classified as stimulants) are:

    loss of appetite (may cause serious malnutrition)
    tremors and muscle twitching
    fevers
    convulsions and headaches (may be severe)
    irregular heartbeat and respirations (may be profound and life threatening)
    anxiety
    restlessness
    paranoia
    hallucinations and delusions
    excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks
    and 'formicaton' (sensation of bugs or worms crawling under the skin)

All of these are the same side-effects experienced by people addicted to drugs such as crystal meth, cocaine, and alcohol.

The effects of mixing these drugs together can have even more severe consequences such as suicide and violent (often deadly) outbursts, as is being evidenced more and more in the news.

Please, realize that your child trusts you with their life and their health. Use common sense and ask yourself whether it makes sense to use medication to improve your child's ability to pay attention. Consider that your child may just need assistance with learning to process information in the context of school and reading.

Drug-Free Solutions are often as simple as supplementing your child's vocabulary, turning the "waaah waaah waaah" from the Charlie Brown example into meaningful instruction from the teacher.

Treatment For ADHD - Looking At the Risks And Deciding What Is A Better Option For Your Child

I have just been reading a fascinating report in the UK Guardian newspaper about the costs of treatment for ADHD in the UK. Under the Freedom of Information Act, their reporters were able to get their hands on the figures for the costs of ADHD drugs and they are shocking.

In the last four years, there has been a 65% increase in spending for ADHD drugs and this has cost the taxpayer over £31 million a year!

The report goes on to deal with some rather disturbing facts coming out of UK schools at the moment. They interviewed one boy who is now thirteen and has been on the Ritalin drug for ADHD since he was six years old. He hates taking the drug and when he skips a dose, he becomes violent and gets into trouble at school. He admitted that he hated taking the drug because of certain side effects. He feels down, drained and listless. He dislikes that drug intensely but it is the only way that he can control his moods and aggression which are just normal ADHD symptoms.

The other shocking fact from this report reveals that there is considerable pressure on parents from teachers and schools to put their children on these amphetamine type drugs such as Ritalin, or Concerta XL which is a slow releasing form.

So, there must be a cheaper, more effective and less costly treatment for ADHD. Let's face it. There are significant side effects from these drugs and nobody seems to know the long term effects on young children's brains. We are talking about amphetamines here! Who wants to be hyped up on a mind altering drug which destroys appetite and disturbs sleep patterns.?

Fortunately many parents have discovered a much safer, more effective alternative to the amphetamines. There are no side effects and no risks to the health of our children in the short or long term either. Homeopathy, much scorned by many doctors, has actually saved the day.

By choosing a homeopathic remedy as the ideal treatment for ADHD, the child will soon be calmer and will behave better. They can also balance moods, impulsivity will be reduced and concentration and focus will be much better.

Time to get started so that your child will not go down the 'speed' and 'ice' route which is the most popular treatment for ADHD. What is stopping you from choosing a much safer and cheaper option?

ADHD Help - Are You Sure You Are Getting The Right Advice To Really Help Your Child?

I was very moved to read about the story of a twenty one year old woman who has been on ADHD medications for quite some time now and cannot get off them. It is clear from her story that she did not get the right sort of ADHD help when she most needed it.

Let me explain a bit better. She started taking Ritalin when she was eighteen because her school life had been chaotic due to her ADHD. The effects were almost immediate in that she was less moody, she was able to focus better and distractability was much less of a problem. She stopped being so impulsive so that shouting out during lessons ceased to be an issue.

After three years on this drug, she has noticed that she feels she may become addicted or totally dependent on it. She has also suffered from an eating disorder in that she stopped eating for a while. She has developed twitching and cannot sleep at night. Her greatest fear is that is she stops taking the drug, she may just go to pieces.

Another story I read about also points up the same problem about how and when to get ADHD help. This parent put her son in Adderall and now, after just two years on this medication, the effects have started to wear off. The old problems of fidgeting, restlessness, impulsive behavior and being difficult and argumentative have all come back. Again this parent needs ADHD help but she is trying another type of medication called Concerta to see if this works.

Did you notice a common thread in these two stories? They both relied on medication alone. The medication can certainly relieve symptoms as we have seen. It produces some nasty side effects, begins to wear off after some time and really does nothing to solve the real problems of ADHD.

How many times have we heard that pills do not teach skills. There is a lot of truth in this because most research now shows that unless behavior modification and coping skills are taught, the ADHD child has little chance of success. The pills will only provide symptom relief and that is all, I am afraid. ADHD behavior therapy is now regarded as the mainstay of treatment and sometimes medication is also used but less and less.

What are the alternatives to medication with powerful stimulants which are based on amphetamine and which are mind altering drugs? We can try herbal remedies, homeopathic and other remedies which have few or no side effects and work just as well, if not better. Why not click through to the site I have prepared to get the ADHD help you need now. This is where you start.

ADHD Children - Parenting Them Does Not Have To Be A Nightmare!

Some parents think that having ADHD children just means getting the prescription for the right medication from their doctor and all will be well. Figures from Canada last year show that there was a 43% increase in ADHD prescriptions for psychostimulants!

However these parents are in for a rude awakening as it will very soon become obvious that ADHD is much more complicated than that. They soon realize that unless there are structures, rules and limits in place, then family life will become mayhem. They have to explain the difference between what is acceptable behavior and what is considered inappropriate behavior. They have to back that up consistently and also introduce rewards and consequences to make it meaningful for the child.

Another problem is how to deal with anger, aggression, hostility and irritability which can result in meltdowns and outbursts. These start to happen with sickening frequency. What can you do? One great way is to encourage the child to verbalize his feelings and emotions before he lashes out and uses violent physical action as the universal remedy for all his problems.

The National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland has decided to offer parents of ADHD children classes in parenting. By attending these classes, they will understand ADHD better and what is happening to an ADHD child as he faces school, social situations and behavior problems in the family. This is following a recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). It is happening also in other areas of the UK.

ADHD children need not always be considered to be at a serious disadvantage as recent research by Professor Michael Fitzgerald of Trinity College Dublin suggests. He told a meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatry's Faculty of Academic Psychiatry that while ADHD is not a guarantee of genius, 'the focused work-rate that it produces may enable creative genius to flourish'.

So, there you have it. We have seen that the greatest challenge in dealing with ADHD children is managing their behavior but also leaving room for their creative ability and all the other gifts they undoubtedly have. After all, let us remember that ADHD is not a disease, not even a condition. It is just a difference.

Learn how to deal with this successfully and your child will never look back. I have built a website which suggests some ways of putting that into practice. Why not click through and explore it.