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Stem Cell Research Holds Cow Promise
MEGAN MCNAUGHT
Weekly Times, The
27 June 2006
STEM-cell research could provide the answer to a range of problems that have plagued the Australian dairy industry since it began, according to Monash Institute of Medical Research senior scientist Paul Verma.
Dr Verma and his team of researchers have been looking at ways of producing and modifying embryonic stem cells in cattle.
A stem cell can divide to become any type of cell in the body, including those with specialised functions, such as muscle, red blood or brain cells.
Harnessing these cells would be useful for a broad range of treatments and purposes, Dr Verma said.
Stem-cell research is going on around the world looking at a broad range of animals, but Dr Verma is concentrating on bovine cells, using methods that have been used for broader applications.
He said Australia was a long way ahead of any other country in its research.
Once they are created, the stem cells can be modified to create vaccines for a range of purposes, including improving udder health, boosting lactation and treating diseases including mastitis.
"No one has every produced a true germline stem cell for any animal other than a mouse," he said.
"We don't know why it appears to be so difficult, but we are closer to producing fully characterised stem cells for cattle than anyone else."
Dr Verma said through their research, they are now able to produce up to 15 or 20 times more embryonic stem cells than anyone else.
"Normal research produces about 10,000 stems cells, while we produce 200,000," he said.
They have managed to stop the cells differentiating, or forming adult cells.
They have also managed to produce a heart muscle, which beats, from stem cells.
He said the research could prove extremely valuable.
"The industry owns a lot of the intellectual property, because it has funded a lot of this research," he said.
"It is a very exciting time for this research.
"Now we have done a lot of the ground work and we feel that we are really progressing.
"If the Dairy CRC does not get more funding then it is likely that this research would go overseas and someone else will pick it up, because there are a lot of people interested in what we are doing."
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