Microbiological retina
Scientists have restored mice's eyesight with the help of archaea genesCopper news
Scientists have restored the mice's vision with the help of photosensitive protein, according to Physorg (Microbial protein restores vision in blind animals).
The study was conducted by a group of specialists from Switzerland, France, Germany, Ireland and the USA under the leadership of Botond Roska from the Friedrich Miescher Institute of Switzerland. A report on their work is published in the journal Science (Volker Busskamp et al., Genetic Reactivation of Cone Photoreceptors Restores Visual Responses in Retinitis pigmentosa).
For the study, the scientists took mice suffering from hereditary retinal disease, in which the photosensitivity of the photoreceptors of the eye (cones) is impaired. In the retina of rodents, researchers introduced the genes of archaea (primitive unicellular organisms close to bacteria, but isolated in a separate kingdom), which are responsible for the production of the photosensitive protein halorodopsin.
As a result, cones in the retina of sick mice began to independently produce halorodopsin (these cells are highlighted in green on the cut of the retina), which led to the restoration of photosensitivity of the receptors. After evaluating the behavior of rodents after gene therapy, scientists came to the conclusion that the animals regained the ability to see. After that, the researchers were similarly able to restore the photosensitivity of human retinal cells in the laboratory.
Despite the successful use of gene therapy, the restored cones, unlike healthy photoreceptors, have lost the ability to adapt to different light conditions. According to Botond Rosk, the cones reacted best to bright yellow light, similar to sunlight on a cloudless day.
To get around this obstacle, the researchers plan to develop special glasses with built-in photosensitive cameras that will regulate the intensity of light entering the patient's eye.
(What prevented the researchers, instead of courageously overcoming the difficulties created with their own hands, from using the genes of mouse or human rhodopsin for gene therapy of retinitis pigmentosa, could not be found out – VM.)
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru16.07.2010