Possibility of revolutionizing ``pharmaceutical preservation method'' by protein necessary for tardigrade's amazing viability


by

Philippe Garcelon

Bear beetles are organisms that have been reported to survive even at extremely high and low temperatures, even under radiation, and to survive even when ejected at a speed of 825 meters per second . It has been reported that by using the protein contained in such tardigrades, it is possible to store many pharmaceuticals that require refrigeration without cooling.

Natural and engineered mediators of desiccation tolerance stabilize Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII in a dry state | Scientific Reports
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31586-9



Tardigrade proteins could help stabilize drugs without refrigeration, scientists say | Live Science

https://www.livescience.com/tardigrade-proteins-could-help-stabilize-drugs-without-refrigeration-scientists-say



Tardigrades, 50 micrometers to 1.7 mm long microorganisms that inhabit water and moss all over the world, shrink and stop their life activities when placed in harsh environments such as dryness. You will be in a “

cryptobiosis ” state. In a cryptobiotic state, tardigrades can withstand extreme temperatures of -200 to 150 degrees Celsius, extreme pressures, and high doses of radiation.

A research team led by Silvia Martinez of the University of Wyoming extracted `` trehalose '' and `` heat-soluble protein '' from Hypsibius , a kind of tardigrade. These substances are believed to help protect the bodies of tardigrades in cryptobiosis.

The research team added trehalose and a heat-soluble protein with fine-tuned biophysical properties to a protein called ' blood coagulation factor VIII ,' which is used to treat an inherited bleeding disorder called ' hemophilia A. ' We conducted a test to increase the stabilization ability by using it.



Blood coagulation factor VIII is said to lose its effectiveness quickly if it is not refrigerated within a certain temperature range, and Thomas Boosby, a molecular biologist at the University of Wyoming, said, 'It's nearly impossible for communities to buy infrastructure such as refrigerators and electrical systems for refrigerated storage and generators for backup to maintain blood clotting factor VIII.'

Therefore, the research team tested trehalose and heat-soluble proteins to see if they could suppress the deterioration of function due to changes in temperature and humidity, which is a common problem that occurs during long-term storage of pharmaceuticals. As a result, it was possible to preserve blood coagulation factor VIII most stably by adding heat-soluble protein.


by Rebekah Smith

``Our research demonstrates that proteins from tardigrades can be used to stably dry store blood clotting factor VIII or many other pharmaceuticals without refrigeration,'' Boosby reports. However, it suggests that the use of proteins may have similar effects in vaccines, antibodies, stem cells, blood, and blood products.

Boosby et al., 'Not only will this research be beneficial for treatments in remote and underdeveloped regions of the world, but it will also provide new ways to eliminate the need for refrigerators, etc., needed for cold storage of pharmaceuticals, food, and other biomolecules. It could be technology,' he said.

in Science, Posted by log1r_ut