Diseases, Cures, and Solutions
Miraculous Cancer treatment
Twelve years ago, two patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (a type of cancer affecting blood and bone marrow) were successfully treated with something called CAR-T cell therapy. Today, the super cells developed during the treatment are still working, fighting off cancer left and right. CAR-T cell therapy has the promise to become a long lasting treatment for many more than just two people, and might help those suffering from other types of cancers as well.
Let’s look at how it works: CAR-T cell therapy genetically modifies T cells (a type of white blood cells) in a lab to fight and kill the cancerous cells. When foreign substances enter the body, the immune system recognizes them by their antigens (a type of protein on these cells’ surface). The T cells have receptors (their own version of protein) which attach to the antigens to destroy them. The altering of the T cells makes sure that they will attach to the antigens well enough to kill these cancer cells.
Although this process hasn’t worked for everyone, and has at times produced terrible side effects, it’s still pretty amazing. This is an extremely exciting discovery for the future of cancer cures and will continue to advance over the years.
Melenhorst, J.J., Chen, G.M., Wang, M. et al. Decade-long leukaemia remissions with persistence of CD4+ CAR T cells. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04390-6.
Covid Vaccine Curing More?
The Covid-19 vaccine was created with a very futuristic technology: mRNA or messenger RNA. Older vaccines were built by growing a virus or proteins from it and then using a weakened version of this to build up an immune response in the body. But mRNA actually dictate instructions to the cells to build certain proteins which will then create an immune response.
Scientists are now trying to figure out whether using mRNA technology will work for other diseases and illnesses. Different companies are working on this for HIV, cancer, malaria, influenza, and more. We will surely see updates in these quests over the next few years.
Hopkins, J.S., & Schwartz, F. Can the Technology behind Covid Vaccines Cure Other Diseases? The Wall Street Journal. February 4, 2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-the-technology-behind-covid-vaccines-cure-other-diseases-11643990913.
New Machine, New Opportunity
We know the state of the climate crisis and the search for carbonless power, now we may be on path for a solution thanks to nuclear fusion (when atoms fuse to form a larger one, releasing a great amount of energy). Nuclear fusion is what powers the majority of stars in our universe, including the sun. Now, scientists in the United Kingdom are working on sustaining nuclear fusion as a source of power.
A record-breaking 59 megajoules of fusion energy was sustained for more than five seconds in December in a huge machine shaped like a donut. Although the machine can only sustain power for five seconds before overheating, scientists found that this process of fusion is a possible solution for the climate crisis. Let’s hope scientists can figure out how to maintain and apply this fusion energy!
Gainor, D., & Dewan, A. A Giant Donut-Shaped Machine Just Proved a Near-Limitless Clean Power Source is Possible. CNN. February 9, 2022. https://apple.news/AcKBay5uORhS_hzNr_dBMIg.
Speaking of Cures, Let’s Look at Sickle Cell Diseases
Our genes are incredible, but sometimes they can cause disorders like sickle cell disease— a condition in which red blood cells affect hemoglobin (a protein that carries oxygen and transports carbon dioxide) causing extreme pain. But, we can now use our genes to cure these genetic disorders by replacing or fixing genes.
Sickle cell disease is the newest target of gene therapies for two reasons: first, the molecular pathways are straightforward and second, not every gene has to be altered. Current trials consist of a gene therapy targeting babies and fetuses to make healthy hemoglobin, another works to bring a copy of the HBB gene (a protein coding gene in hemoglobin) to people, and a third trial involves using CRISPR technology (a tool for editing genomes) to cut out the defective part of the gene. Millions of people suffer from a type of sickle cell disease; if these trials work, imagine how many could gain their lives back!
Garcia de Jesús, E. Gene Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease Come With Hope and Challenges. Science News. February 11, 2022. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/gene-therapy-sickle-cell-disease-esrick-genetics.