Prevention

evaluate the effectiveness of current disease-prevention methods and develop strategies for the prevention of a non-infectious disease, including but not limited to:

- educational programs and campaigns

• Purpose is to

  • Promote awareness about health issues

  • Help people make informed life choices

• Health campaigns tend to emphasise disease prevention

• Span whole countries, or target select communities or groups, depending on the target audience

• The messages they communicate serve as the authority on the relevant topic ∴ must be

  • Easily understood, reliable, evidence based

• Funding comes from the government and from non-government organisations

examples of educational campaigns

Slip! Slop! Slap!

A public health campaign introduced by SunSmart Launched in 1981 Increase children’s understanding of the risk, increase their compliance, and prevent skin cancer (UV rays damaging DNA in cells) by changing their behaviour Purpose: To address high skin cancer rates in Australia. Promote the awareness of the risks of UV radiation and the importance of sun protection when outdoors Slip on clothing, Slop on sunscreen, Slap on a hat In 2009, the slogan evolved to include seek shade and slide on sunglasses.

COVID-19

Public health campaigns are also important in infectious disease management. The Australian Government implemented an extensive public health campaign to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Purpose: Aimed to prevent the spread of infection Encouraged people to get vaccinated, wash hands, wear masks and social distance Delivered in a range of languages and formats to maximise the campaign's audience

evaluate the effectiveness of current disease-prevention methods and develop strategies for the prevention of a non-infectious disease, including but not limited to:

-  genetic engineering

modifying an organism's genome to introduce desirable characteristics

• Only somatic cells are used in gene therapy

• Only treats the individual and does not affect their offspring.

  • This means that the cure is not inheritable

  • Motivated by ethics and economics

e.g. gene therapy, genetically modified cells

gene therapy

Inserting new DNA into a host to stimulate the production of missing or dysfunctional genes and proteins

• Normal target gene = functional protein produced = relieving symptoms

Process

• The target gene is put into a vector  enables it to incorporate into the host DNA

• The gene is then either directly inserted into the host or introduced to a stem cell then the host

CRISPR for Cystic Fibrosis

• Use AAV virus used as a vector to administer CRISPR

• Cas9 is an enzyme that cuts DNA like “molecular scissors” at specific spots.

• A 20-base guide RNA leads Cas9 to the correct place on the DNA.

• Homology-directed repair is used to insert a working gene in place of the faulty one.

• Don’t need a custom guide RNA for each mutation  can replace the whole faulty CFTR gene for the functional one

• The edited cells pass the working CFTR gene to new cells, which make the correct protein.

• CRISPR is long-lasting → one fix can have permanent effects

Genetically Modified Cells

Scientists regularly produce genetically modified cells to better understand and treat diseases.

Example: Cancer immunotherapy

• Mice B lymphocytes can be altered to produce human monoclonal antibodies

• Human T lymphocytes can be altered to be even more sensitive to targeting cancer cells.

• Used to heighten the immune response to treat or prevent disease