Could brain injury drugs be tested on insects?RSS Feed

Medicines being developed to treat those with brain injury could be tested on insects in the future.

Dr Kevin Kavanagh from the National University of Ireland – Maynooth discussed the possibility of using moths and fruit flies to examine the effectiveness of medications, instead of animals.

A type of white blood cell – neutrophils - that is part of the mammalian immune system reacts in the same way to infecting microbes as the haematocytes cells in insects, which is why they could be used to test drugs.

Not only would this reduce the number of mice required in laboratories by up to 90 per cent, it would also speed up the testing process.

Dr Kavanagh explained his team found that despite being separated by over 400 million years of evolution, immune cells in insects and mammals are structurally and functionally alike.

"We will continue to explore the similarities between insect and mammalian immune responses so that insects can be used as models to study different … states in humans," he said.

Meanwhile, an injectible gel is currently being developed to help patients with traumatic brain injury.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in acquired brain injury

Brain injury memoir a "feel good" book

08 September 2009

People who have a loved one affected by a brain injury might be interested in a book that has been described as "feel good".Jennifer Mosher was involved in a car accident on her way to college....

Read More...

Brain-computer interfaces 'could help damaged spinal cords'

07 September 2009

Using brain-computer interfaces to help people with spinal cord injuries is becoming a reality, it has been asserted.In the group's blog, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation noted it currently...

Read More...

15% sports injuries in school are 'severe'

07 September 2009

Some 15 per cent of all sport-related injuries in school are categorised as severe – which could include concussion, along with brain injury.This is the finding of investigators at the Center for...

Read More...