Pages

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

About Me

Hey there! My name is Hope Quagliano. I am a second year undergraduate student at Alverno College.  I am majoring in nursing with a minor in psychology. I am currently enrolled in Microbiology which requires us to write a blog about a popular topic that relates to microorganisms and how they impact society. The topic I chose to research was genetically modified microorganisms (GMO's) in drug production. Specifically, I want to focus on the use of genetically modified organisms in vaccines. 



http://mokoshskincare.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/gm-dna-image-small.jpg





What Are GMO's?

GMO's are genetically modified organisms whose genetic material has be altered with other organisms DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These alterations are done in a laboratory and cannot occur in nature or traditional cross breeding (NON GMO project, 2014).  GMO's are more typically known to be in foods but they are also being used for drug production for prescriptions, vitamins, and even vaccines. In most countries GMO's are banned, however in America, the use of GMO's are allowed under regulation.







Why are GMO's Being Used?

Genetically modified organisms are used to produced flavors, binders, enzymes, food additives and vitamins. Scientists find an organism that produces a particular additive, then they alter its genes. It is then incubated so the organism can grow. When it is done growing, it is isolated and extracted (hemphealer, 2013). Genetic engineers take the genetically modified organisms to make certain vaccines. GM vaccines are able to be produced more rapidly in greater quantities. Which, in all, makes more of a profit for the company producing the vaccine.






GM Vaccines in Society

FDA approves First GMO Flu Vaccine 


Last year, in 2013, the influenza vaccine called Flublock was produced containing GM proteins from insect cells. The insect virus was known as baculovirus. The purpose was to create a more rapid production of vaccines. The manufacturer for this vaccine was Protein Sciences Corporation (PSC). According to PSC, Flublock is produced by extracting insect cells and altering its genetics to make them produce large amounts of hemagglutinin. A concerning serious side affect is a fatally nerve disease called Guillain-Barre-Syndrome (Benson, 2013). 

"Development of influenza vaccines that do not use embryonated eggs as the substrate for vaccine production is a high priority. We conducted this study to determine the protective efficacy a recombinant, baculovirus-expressed seasonal trivalent influenza virus hemagglutinin (rHA0) vaccine (FluBlok(®)" (Teannor, 2011). 


http://livefreelivenatural.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/968943_590772887623605_2076653589_n.jpg

Are the short term "perceived" benefits of using vaccines containing GMO's worth the long term risks?




Should You Be Concerned?

Many concerns about GM vaccines are similar to GMO's in foods. 













"A US vaccine company has applied for permission to infect up to one thousand individuals, including children, with genetically modified live bacteria contained in an oral vaccine. PaxVax recently submitted their application for permission to begin the first of three international clinical trials for the new oral cholera vaccine via oral ingestion of the GMOs” (Fluegge, 2013)






Other Blogs Concerning GMO's in Vaccines 







GMO Awareness!



http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/monsanto-tekmira-ebola-virus-vaccine-conspiracy-frankenfood-gmo-false-flag.jpg




http://www.adamsonsacorn.com/Y6FwtTA.png





References

Benson, J. (2013, June 7). FDA approves First GMO Flu Vaccine Containing 
     Reprogrammed Insect Virus. Retrieved November 11, 2014, from Organic 
     Consumers Association website: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/ 
     article_27694.cfm 

Fluegge, M. (2013, December 6). Your Children to be Used as Guinea Pigs for New 
     GMO Vaccine. Retrieved November 11, 2014, from Vactruth website: 
     http://vactruth.com/2013/12/06/gmo-vaccines/ 

Hemphealer. (2013). GMOs … in prescription drugs, vitamins and supplements? 
     [Blog post]. Retrieved from The Inspired Observer website: 
     http://hemphealer.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/ 
     gmos-in-prescription-drugs-vitamins-and-supplements/

Treanor, J. (n.d.). Protective efficacy of a trivalent recombinant hemagglutinin 
     protein vaccine (FluBlok®) against influenza in healthy adults: a 
     randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pub Med. Retrieved from 
     http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21835220 

No comments:

Post a Comment