Finding New Drugs Flashcards
How many different kinds of medicines are currently available in the UK?
There are currently over 6000 different kinds of medicine available in the UK
Why are new drugs constantly needed?
- new diseases/strains are emerging
- there are still many diseases for which there is no effective treatments
- many bacteria are becoming antibiotic resistant
Give an example of a disease that emerged?
SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome was a viral respiratory disease that appeared to have started im 2002 and caused 774 deaths
State 3 strains of influenza that have been particularly harmful?
1918 - Spanish flu 20 million deaths
1957 - Asian flu 2 million deaths
1968 - Hong Kong flu 1 million
How are new drugs discovered?
- By accident
- Traditional medicine
- Observation of wildlife
- Modern research
- Research into disease-causing mechanisms
- Personalised medicine
- Synthetic biology
8.
Who was penicillin discovered by?
Penicillin was discovered by accident by ALEXANDER FLEMING
In SEPTEMBER 1928
How was penicillin discovered?
- Fleming noticed a Petri dish containing the bacteria Straphylococcus had been ACCIDENTLY left opened and contaminated by a mould from an open window
- there was a halo of inhibited bacterial growth around the mould
- Fleming concluded that the mould released a substance that KILLED and PREVENTED growth of the bacteria
What are most antibiotics today made from?
Today most antibiotics are made from the bacterium
STREPTOMYCES e.g. Streptomyocin and chloramphenicol
What is meant by traditional medicine?
Traditional medicine is the sum total of the KNOWLEDGE , SKILLS and PRACTICES based on the THEORIES, BELIEFS and EXPERIENCES indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not
used in the MAINTENANCE of health as well as in the PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, IMPROVEMENT or TREATMENT of physical and mental illness
What is the percentage of people that WHO has calculated to rely on traditional medicines?
WHO has calculated that 80% of the world’s population relies on trad medicines
Give the named of the anaesthetic which has its origins in the sap of unripe poppies that were used in Neolithic times in parts of Southern Europe and Egypt?
MORPHINE has its origin in the SAP of UNRIPE poppies that were used in NEOLITHIC times in parts of SOUTHERN EUROPE and EGYPT
What happened in the 12th and 19th centuries?
In the 12th century OPIUM from poppies was used as an anaesthetic
In 19th century MORPHINE and OPIUM were being used as an anaesthetic
Which medicine has a particularly long history?
Medicinal use of willow-bark extract to relieve PAIN and FEVER has a long history
What is a side effect of willow-bark?
Stomach bleeding
What happened in 1987?
After the discovery of the active ingredient in willow bark
In 1987 a way was later found to reduce the side effects of stomach bleeding which led to the development of the drugs ASPRIN and IBUPROFEN
What do monkeys, bears and other animals rub on their coats as insecticides and antiseptics to prevent insect bites and infection?
Monkeys, bears and other animals rub CITRUS OILS on their coats as insecticides and antiseptics to prevent insect bites and infection
What do chimpanzees do in order to remove parasites from their digestive tracts?
Chimpanzees swallow LEAVES FOLDED IN A PARTICULAR WAY in order to remove parasites from their digestive tracts
What do birds line their nests with to protect their chicks from mites?
Birds line their nests with MEDICINAL leaves to protect chicks from mites
What do scientists use as starting points in their search for new drugs?
Scientists use TRADITIONAL PLANT MEDICINES, ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR and MICROORGANISMS as starting points in their search for new drugs.
Why do scientists use traditional plant medicines, animal behaviour and microorganism in their search for new drugs?
Because research into plant med, animal behaviour and microorganism help scientists to potentially isolate the active ingredient
What did Hippocrates use in order to relieve pain and fever?
Hippocrates used an extract from willow bark to relieve pain and fever. Willow bark was to be used throughout the Middle Ages
In 1928 what did Johann Buchner extract from willow bark?
It was not until 1828 that Johann Buchner extracted the active ingredient ‘Salicin’
Salicin could be used to relieve pain but caused stomach bleeding
What happened in 1897 which was found to reduce the side effects of salicin?
In 1897 a way was found to reduce the side effect by adding an acetyl group to salicin
What do tropical rainforests have more diversity of living organisms than any other what?
Tropical rainforests contain more diversity of living organisms than any other land environment - they have a large biodiversity
What is meant by biodiversity ?
Range of different species in a habitat
- variety of organisms/plants/animal
What happens when habitats become extinct?
When habitats are DESTROYED
E.g. DEFORESTATION we also LOSE biodiversity and many species of animals and plants DIE OUT/become EXTINCT
Why is it important to maintain biodiversity?
- organisms may produce substances useful to humans
- duty to preserve for future generations
- effect on other organisms e.g. Food chain effects
What is something that pharmaceutical companies do?
Pharmaceutical companies conduct research into the way microorganisms cause disease
What biological features are particularly used by pharmaceutical companies?
Many companies make use of the receptors in the PLASMA MEMBRANE and RECEPTORS in the microorganism
E.g. The HIV virus binds to the CD4 and CCR5 receptors in the surface of T-helper cells
What happens if the binding between the pathogen and receptor site is blocked?
If the BINDING between the PATHOGEN and RECEPTOR site is blocked, then the DISEASE causing organism CANNOT access the cell.
What can happen to the glycoprotein receptor molecule?
The glycoprotein receptor molecule can be isolated and sequenced
What is used after the amino acid sequence is known to determine the shape of the receptor?
Once the amino sequence is now MOLECULAR MODELLING can be used to determine the shape of the receptor
What has to be done after molecular modelling is done?
The next step is to find a drug that mimics the shape of the receptor and would block the virus entering the T-helper cell.
What might it be possible to do in the future?
In the future it might be possible to SEQUENCE GENES from INDIVIDUALS with a PARTICULAR CONDITION and DEVELOP drugs for that condition.
What is synthetic biology?
Synthetic biology = the DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION of new biological entities such as ENZYMES, GENETIC CIRCUITS, and cells or the REDESIGN of existing biological systems
Give some examples of applications of synthetic biology:
- synthetic life - artificial cells
- industrial enzymes designed to produce products with high optimum yields and effectiveness
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are compounds that PREVENT the growth of FUNGI or BACTERIA
What was the first antibiotic?
PENICILLIN and it was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928
What are antibiotics now widely used to treat?
Antibiotics are now widely used to treat BACTERIAL INFECTION
What is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics enabled?
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has enabled microorganisms to develop resistance
How ones antibiotic resistance occur?
There is VARIATION amongst a population of bacteria
Bacteria divide and a GENETIC MUTATION results in one becoming RESISTANT to the antibiotic
When exposed to the antibiotic this bacteria SURVIVES (selective advantage) and reproduces while the others die
The ADVANTAGEOUS GENE will then be passed on to the next generation
What mnemonic can help us to remember how antibiotic resistance occur?
Most - Mutation Vultures - Variation Are - Advantage (selective) Simply - survive Rubbish - reproduce Golfers - gene (advantageous)
