APPLICATIONS OF BIOLUMINESCENCE
Application of bioluminescence has significantly assisted the biomedical scientists in the biomedical research as they gain valuable techniques in the biological processes. This article provides valuable information on the application of bioluminescence in biomedical research and in specific, in cancer research (Badr &Tannous, 2011).The natural phenomenon which occurs through the chemical reaction has introduced a new research known as bioluminescence imaging and this mainly involves detecting the photons in the biological system. Badr &Tannous (2011) assert that the biological system requires luciferase (enzyme) and oxygen. They add that Luceferases enzymes that are used in the medical research are Photinus pyralis (Fluc)-found in North America, Renilla renoformis (Rluc) and Gaussia princeps (Gluc). Gluc and Rluc are naturally secreted while Gluc is found in the blood and urine and they help in the biological processes in the external environment (ex vivo).Since Flu and Rclu are naturally secreted, the biological processes occur within the living organism thereby producing higher light output. In bioluminescence imaging, Flu, Rluc and, Gluc are temporally distinct and they offer two biological processes (cultured cells and living organisms) which are combined to increase the sensitivity of bioluminescence imaging. In cancer research, biomedical scientists use BLI in the tracking of cellular events and cancer stem cells. In addition, BLI is used in clinical trials to find and test the efficacy of anti-tumor treatments (Badr &Tannous, 2011). In tumor therapy, the in vitro and in vivo biologically process of luciferase reports cell proliferation. In most cases, tumor therapy is done ex vivo experiment where process-specific promoters are used. The collected specific tissue or cells are used in the experimental models to monitor cancer cells and therapy. An important point in the cancer research is that there are many clinical trials for gene therapy and biomedical scientists are able to study therapeutic genes, viral tropism, and viral replication. Scientists use the animal models to understand the pathologies and to identify the best treatment (Badr & Tannous, 2011).
As Badr &Tannous (2011) say that bioluminescence is used in imaging technology and drug discovery where luciferase acts as a reporter gene, Thouand & Marks (2014) adds that bioluminescne or rather Luciferases play role in the immunoassay and the biomedical scientists use the method in disease diagnosis and therapy. Luciferases are used in the medical diagnostics especially as reporters in binding assays. In most cases, fireflies and marine bacteria are used in the bioluminescent systems since they have cDNAs coding for light-emitting proteins, recombinant proteins and synthesized substrates (Thouand & Marks, 2014). In analyzing the application of bioluminescence in medical diagnostic, the authors focus on vitro binding assays and the role of luciferase as a reporter assay. Immunoassay is mainly used in the medical laboratory to measure antibodies or antigens and to separate antigen-antibody. The immunoassay in the immunometric acts as a powerful tool for providing affinity, avidity and cross-reactivity. The authors provide an example of immunoassay such as Sandwich Elisa which is used to measure the antigen. The procedure of the Sandwich Elisa involves the activation of a sandwich surface with the antibody where the combination results to immunocompelx signal generation (Thouand & Marks, 2014).To understand more in medical field, bioluminescence has enhanced chemiluminescent where researchers now use Western blotting and ELISAs in protein analysis. In bioluminescent imaging, researchers identify the proteins by staining the protein samples with gel electrophoresis. It is also possible to detect a specific protein by using immunochemical detection.
References
Badr E. Christian & Tannous A. Bakhos. (2011). BIOLUMINESCENCE IMAGING: PROGRESS AND
APPLICATIONS. US National Library of Medicine, 29(12): 624–633.
doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2011.06.010
In Thouand, G., & In Marks, R. (2014). Bioluminescence: Fundamentals and applications in
biotechnology.
