9 views
Miracle drug
#DiscoveryGoneWrong
Amyloid disease, a deadly disease of human being caused by accumulation of misfolded proteins. Most prevalent being Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.
I, Dr. Ashok am a working researcher in a leading research facility of our country trying to study the causes and effect of disease.
Together with my accomplished assistants, who are in charge of sample isolation, storage, microscopy detection, and animal testing on mice, I have established a lab for the sole purpose of finding a cure to this incurable disease.
I have also collaborated with many other smaller labs, who would send their data and findings for our better understanding of diseases and also find some molecules which could slow the progression of disease and eventually cure it.
" So, Sagar why have you called me this time? " I asked one fine day as one of my intern called me.
" Sir, Vikas and Sweta have an interesting finding. We don't know what to make of it." Sagar replied as I followed him to section 3 of our lab.
Sweat and Vikas were standing and talking in excitement, only to hush themselves in my presence.
" Sweta, why are you beaming today.." I asked casually.
" Sir, you won't believe this. Look at these mice, the older one was affected by amyloid disease in its brain. Till last night, it couldn't even walk, and had seizures. Now it's working like the young healthy mice." Sweta said with a big smile.
" Really, I can't believe it." I was shocked, " let me see."
Indeed the mice no. MLB23 was behaving normally, even running like a young mice.
" What drug you have given? " I asked Vikas.
" Sir, it's the molecules from the mycology research lab. The one extracted from that zombie fungus." He answered politely.
Zombie fungus was really nickname locals have given to a fungus that grow on live insects and let them do its bidding like transportation and spreading of spores. The Mycology lab we had a collaboration with, were studying the chemicals it produced to control the brain and neural structures of insects.
" Let us check it in electron microscope." I told my juniors as they extracted the diseased cells and processed it.
I was amazed to see that the misfoldings of the protein structures have stopped and even reversing. I immediately called my seniors and the mycology lab and asked for industrial level production of the molecule as a new drug for amyloid group of diseases. It passed all clinical trials and patients started seeing results even within first month of treatment. There was almost no side effect. Families were being saved.
-------
It's been a year since the launch of product. The company made a huge profit, even some high risk family started taking the drug as prophylaxis for prevention of disease in future. I have been called for a prestigious award ceremony to give a speech.
" A miracle drug, saving life of millions, finally humanity has victory over an incurable disease. We could find solutions to anything, if we have enough passion." I proclaimed on the stage.
The people cheered, flashes were seen as photos were taken for news and papers.
Coming home, I sat with my family to watch the news that would run my speech and award ceremony. As the show begins, we celebrated with drinks, but soon everything came crashing down.
" Breaking news, there has been multiple
cases of domestic violence, murders in different families. Police are in crime scene." The newsreporter informed.
" Our correspondent is live. Amrita, what's the situation now?"
" It's a dangerous situation, the middle aged adults from different families first started violent attacks on their family members, then the street people, even attacking the police. It is known that they are not being killed by gun. It's as if, as if, they became zombies"
" Zombies !! I exclaimed, "I have a bad feeling about it."
My family members were asking what I meant, but I was panicking. I took my car out and went to the lab.
As I opened section 1, 2, 3 of my lab to check for the mice. The mice seems healthy and running, gnawing at the mazes and food. Then, I checked for section 5 of the lab, a place where both healthy and treated mice were kept. How could I have missed? Not a single healthy mice remain, only the treated ones looking at my eyes with blank stare.
© Dr. Manish Rout
Amyloid disease, a deadly disease of human being caused by accumulation of misfolded proteins. Most prevalent being Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.
I, Dr. Ashok am a working researcher in a leading research facility of our country trying to study the causes and effect of disease.
Together with my accomplished assistants, who are in charge of sample isolation, storage, microscopy detection, and animal testing on mice, I have established a lab for the sole purpose of finding a cure to this incurable disease.
I have also collaborated with many other smaller labs, who would send their data and findings for our better understanding of diseases and also find some molecules which could slow the progression of disease and eventually cure it.
" So, Sagar why have you called me this time? " I asked one fine day as one of my intern called me.
" Sir, Vikas and Sweta have an interesting finding. We don't know what to make of it." Sagar replied as I followed him to section 3 of our lab.
Sweat and Vikas were standing and talking in excitement, only to hush themselves in my presence.
" Sweta, why are you beaming today.." I asked casually.
" Sir, you won't believe this. Look at these mice, the older one was affected by amyloid disease in its brain. Till last night, it couldn't even walk, and had seizures. Now it's working like the young healthy mice." Sweta said with a big smile.
" Really, I can't believe it." I was shocked, " let me see."
Indeed the mice no. MLB23 was behaving normally, even running like a young mice.
" What drug you have given? " I asked Vikas.
" Sir, it's the molecules from the mycology research lab. The one extracted from that zombie fungus." He answered politely.
Zombie fungus was really nickname locals have given to a fungus that grow on live insects and let them do its bidding like transportation and spreading of spores. The Mycology lab we had a collaboration with, were studying the chemicals it produced to control the brain and neural structures of insects.
" Let us check it in electron microscope." I told my juniors as they extracted the diseased cells and processed it.
I was amazed to see that the misfoldings of the protein structures have stopped and even reversing. I immediately called my seniors and the mycology lab and asked for industrial level production of the molecule as a new drug for amyloid group of diseases. It passed all clinical trials and patients started seeing results even within first month of treatment. There was almost no side effect. Families were being saved.
-------
It's been a year since the launch of product. The company made a huge profit, even some high risk family started taking the drug as prophylaxis for prevention of disease in future. I have been called for a prestigious award ceremony to give a speech.
" A miracle drug, saving life of millions, finally humanity has victory over an incurable disease. We could find solutions to anything, if we have enough passion." I proclaimed on the stage.
The people cheered, flashes were seen as photos were taken for news and papers.
Coming home, I sat with my family to watch the news that would run my speech and award ceremony. As the show begins, we celebrated with drinks, but soon everything came crashing down.
" Breaking news, there has been multiple
cases of domestic violence, murders in different families. Police are in crime scene." The newsreporter informed.
" Our correspondent is live. Amrita, what's the situation now?"
" It's a dangerous situation, the middle aged adults from different families first started violent attacks on their family members, then the street people, even attacking the police. It is known that they are not being killed by gun. It's as if, as if, they became zombies"
" Zombies !! I exclaimed, "I have a bad feeling about it."
My family members were asking what I meant, but I was panicking. I took my car out and went to the lab.
As I opened section 1, 2, 3 of my lab to check for the mice. The mice seems healthy and running, gnawing at the mazes and food. Then, I checked for section 5 of the lab, a place where both healthy and treated mice were kept. How could I have missed? Not a single healthy mice remain, only the treated ones looking at my eyes with blank stare.
© Dr. Manish Rout
