ADVANCES IN IMMUNOLOGY

GENETIC
ENGINEERING
&
IMMUNOREGULATION
Janelle A. Dimas | BSN-3B Group 1
Let's spell
it out!
TOPIC OUTLINE
Genetic Engineering
- What is it?
- How does it work?
- History of Genetic Engineering
- What else is Genetic
Engineering used for?
Gene Therapy

Immunoregulation
WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING?
Genetic engineering, sometimes
called genetic modification, is the
process of altering the DNA in an
organism’s genome.
 Genetic engineering is used by scientists to enhance or
modify the characteristics of an individual organism.
Genetic engineering can be applied to any organism, from a
virus to a sheep.
Genetics nurses work with individuals that are at risk of
developing or already suffering from genetic disorders and
diseases. These nurses may perform genetics screenings,
treat symptoms associated with these diseases, and help
individuals and their loved ones deal with these diseases.
HISTORY OF GENETIC ENGINEERING
The first genetically modified organism to be created was a
bacterium, in 1973.
In 1974, the same techniques were applied to mice.
In 1994 the first genetically modified foods were made available.
In 1997, Dolly made headlines as the first successfully cloned
large mammal (sheep). Since then there have been many
similar advances in medicine, such as treatments for cancer;
many advances in agriculture, such as transgenic insect-
resistant crops; and many advances in animal husbandry, such
as growth hormones and transgenic animals (an animal that
has received recombinant DNA).
WHAT ELSE IS GENETIC ENGINEERING USED FOR?
Genetic engineering has a number of useful
applications, including scientific research, agriculture
and technology.
In plants, genetic engineering has been applied to
improve the resilience, nutritional value and growth
rate of crops such as potatoes, tomatoes and rice.
In animals it has been used to develop sheep that
produce a therapeutic protein in their milk that can be
used to treat cystic fibrosis, or worms that glow in the
dark to allow scientists to learn more about diseases
such as Alzheimer’s.
in order to explain
how does genetic
HOW DOES
engineering works, GENETIC
here is an
illustration using the
ENGINEERING
example, insulin WORKS?
 Did you know that
some of the COVID-
19 vaccines that are
developing are a
product of genetic
engineering?
 To create a genetically engineered vaccine, scientists are utilizing
information from the genome of the COVID-19 virus to create blueprint
antigens (a toxin or other foreign substance which provokes an immune
response that produces antibodies), which consists of DNA or RNA
molecules that contain genetic instructions. The DNA or RNA would be
injected into human cells where upon it is hoped the cell will use those
instructions to create an immune response. If this type of vaccine is
developed, it could offer protection for many years as the COVID-19 virus
does not appear to mutate as quickly as influenza, though this critical
variable could change in the future. RNA vaccines are considered to be
better at stimulating the immune system to create antibodies. They also
create a more potent immune response and therefore require a lower
dosage. However, they are less stable than DNA vaccines, which can
withstand higher temperatures; RNA vaccines, though, can be degraded by
heat and thus need to be kept frozen or refrigerated.
According to Brunner and Suddarth's
Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing
14th Edition

There are two facets of this technology exist.

The first permits scientists to combine genes
from one type of organism with genes of a
second organism. This type of technology
allows cells and microorganisms to
manufacture proteins, monokines, and
lymphokines, which can alter and enhance
immune system function.
The second facet of recombinant DNA
technology involves gene therapy.
If a particular gene is abnormal or missing,
experimental recombinant DNA technology
may be capable of restoring normal gene
function.
For example, a recombinant gene is inserted
onto a virus particle. When the virus particle
splices its genes, the virus automatically
inserts the missing gene and theoretically
corrects the genetic anomaly.
 GENE THERAPY

Gene therapy uses sections of DNA

(usually genes) to treat or prevent
disease.
The technique was first developed in
1972 but has, so far, had limited
success in treating human diseases.
Gene therapy may be a promising
treatment option for some genetic
diseases, including muscular
dystrophy and cystic fibrosis.
 SOMATIC GENE THERAPY
transfer of a section of DNA to
any cell of the body that doesn’t
produce sperm or eggs.
Effects of gene therapy will not
be passed onto the patient’s
children.
GERMLINE GENE THERAPY
transfer of a section of DNA to
cells that produce eggs or
sperm.
Effects of gene therapy will be
passed onto the patient’s
children and subsequent
generations.
GENE AUGMENTATION
THERAPY
This is used to treat
diseases caused by a
mutation that stops a gene
from producing a
functioning product, such as
a protein.
This therapy adds DNA
containing a functional
version of the lost gene
back into the cells.
 GENE INHIBITION
THERAPY

Suitable for the treatment of infectious diseases,

cancer and inherited disease caused by
inappropriate gene activity.
The aim is to introduce a gene whose product either:
inhibits the expression of another gene and interferes
with the activity of the product of another gene.
KILLING OF SPECIFIC
CELLS

Suitable for diseases such

as cancer that can be
treated by destroying
certain groups of cells.
The aim is to insert DNA
into a diseased cell that
causes that cell to die.
HOW IS DNA
TRANSFER
DONE?
IMMUNOREGULATION
The term 'immunoregulation' usually refers
to such control mechanisms which
influence the immune response in a
positive or negative way.
A successful immune response eliminates
the responsible antigen.
Regulation of the immune response
involves balance and counterbalance.
If an immune response fails to develop
and clear an antigen sufficiently, the host
is considered to be immunocompromised
or immunodeficient.
If the response is overly robust or
misdirected, allergies, asthma, or
autoimmune disease results.
The principal basic mechanisms of
immunoregulation comprise the systems
of recognition structures regulating
antigen specificity of immune responses
and the interconnecting systems involved
in the overall regulation of immune
responses.
Such regulatory interconnecting systems
include regulatory T cells, idiotypic
network, isotopic network, and the
intricate web of interactions between
cytokines (cytokine network).
 In addition, there is now evidence that these highly
complex and sophisticated regulatory systems are not
only interrelated to each other, but are themselves
regulated by signals originated outside the immune
system (e.g., from the nervous or the endocrine
apparatus).
These alterations of immunoregulatory mechanisms are
involved in the pathogensis of many groups of human
diseases, such as immunodeficiencies, neoplastic and
immunoproliferative disorders, many infectious diseases,
atopic disease, and autoimmune disorders.
Therefore, regulatory mechanisms must be in place to
suppress or halt the immune response. This is mainly
achieved by the production of cytokines and
transformation of growth factor that inhibit macrophage
activation. In some cases, T-cell activation is so acute that
these mechanisms fail, and pathology develops.
Ongoing research on immunoregulation holds the promise
of preventing graft rejection and aiding the body in
eliminating cancerous or infected cells
 REFERENCES

GENETIC ENGINEERING KEY TO

DEVELOPING COVID-19 VACCINE |
GENETIC LITERACY PROJECT
WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING? |
FACTS | YOURGENOME.ORG
WHAT IS GENE THERAPY? | FACTS |
YOURGENOME.ORG