MSU scientists develop potential new treatment for autoimmune diseases

[shambles]

The article does not mention thyroid but non the less relevant to some.

Could it be something so simple that will provide the answer?

May 13, 2013 -- MSU News Service

BOZEMAN – Scientists at Montana State University have developed a therapeutic that has potential as a biological drug or probiotic food product to combat many of the more than 80 autoimmune disorders that affect some 23.5 million people in the United States.

A patent application is pending and the technology is available for licensing.

The bacterium used by MSU researchers to develop the new therapeutic is a common organism found in the human gut and could be administered as a probiotic food such as yogurt, as well as in a pill or nasal mist.

Because the therapeutic is engineered into a bacterium that qualifies under ­­­the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Generally Regarded As Safe designation, it has the potential for low manufacturing costs.

The technology offers potential as a treatment for a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including common and potentially debilitating ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis, Type-1 diabetes, colitis and multiple sclerosis. It could also enhance existing autoimmune treatments.

While the bacterium acts to suppress a broad range of autoimmune responses, it does so without the need for a specific disease antigen to be engineered into compound so that a single therapeutic drug or probiotic could be developed to address multiple autoimmune diseases. Immune response to the therapeutic is low such that it can be administered repeatedly without the body reacting negatively to it.

Currently, MSU has 213 licenses from technologies developed by faculty and researchers. Of those, 85 licenses are with Montana companies.

Contact: Nick Zelver, associate director, MSU Office of Technology Transfer, [phone] or [e-mail].

PICTURE OF A GRAVES THYROID

[helvella Administrator]

Interesting - I wonder how long? And how much?

Rod

[Aurora-auspice]

Wow excellent would be great if it could be this easy!

[Joyia]

My knowledge is limited but my readings in recent years have been leading to the primary importance of gut health. Many of the regimes to heal the gut include the use of probiotics. It is a question of time before general medicine catches up. In the meantime, like many here, we do our own research with the intention of improving our gut health. It is very encouraging to learn of Montana State's University recent findings. Thank you for bringing this to our attention shambles.

[Throid]

Could it be linked to this? bbc.co.uk/news/health-22458428 and dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

Looks interesting.

[poing]

My initial reaction is one of extreme fear...

They want to put this drug into a genetically engineered bacterium... you take it and then it could colonise the gut... if it does you harm then you might never get rid of it!

And what if you pass it onto someone else, someone that doesn't need the drug?

Like I said, extremely frightening. We seriously don't know what we're messing with here. We barely understand a fraction of the how the gut bacteria works already.