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Calls for replacement of animals in antibody production
lab mouse
The latest UK stats on animal use in scientific experiments show 9,500 animals were used for antibody production in 2013.
Animal-friendly alternative to animals being overlooked, scientists say
 
Scientists studying the production of antibodies say millions of animals are still being used in routine scientific procedures when there is a tried and tested alternative.

Writing in the Cell Press journal Trends in Biotechnology, the international group of scientists said an animal friendly technique for antibody production that uses bacteriophage viruses rather than live animals, is being overlooked. Yet they believe it has enormous potential to reduce animal use.

Dr Alison Gray, a visiting researcher at the University of Nottingham, explained: "The antibody-based tests that are commonly used in society appear to be far removed from animal experimentation since no animals were directly tested on.

"However, the target molecule to be detected is repeatedly injected into the animal, initiating an immune response. Months later, the animal is euthanased and antibodies to that molecule are extracted and incorporated into an in vitro, 'animal-free' test. So in reality, we are not replacing animals but substituting methods."

It should be the ultimate aim of scientists in this field to replace the use of animals in research and industry, she added, but there is a lack of awareness about this technology.

"The 20 year old advanced technology called ‘phage display’ which uses bacteriophage viruses to produce monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies is available and cost-effective and can replace a huge number of animals. In fact this technology has grown to a level of scientific sophistication that outweighs obsolete and outdated animal immunisation protocols."

The latest UK stats on animal use in scientific experiments show 9,500 animals were used for antibody production in 2013, but as the reporting techniques in subsequent reports are different, Dr Gray says we cannot know how many animals have been used in more recent years.

Dr Andrew Bennett, director of the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME) laboratory, commented on the research.

"The paper by Dr Gray and her colleagues highlights the unusual situation in terms of antibody production. Antibodies can be made without using animals and the technology is both accessible and robust; yet thousands of animals are killed each year in commercial antibody production."

Aside from the unnecessary use of animals, there is also another issue - the quality of antibodies raised in animals for scientific research. Dr Bennett said a "substantial proportion" of these either perform poorly or do not work. He added: "Phage display technology has the potential to produce more specific and better functioning antibodies than traditional animal based methods. FRAME will be working with and supporting Dr Gray in order to promote the use of phage display technology in the future."

Scientists from the universities of Nottingham, Toronto, Utrecht and Lund in Sweden are proposing a seven-point, EU-led plan to tackle the issue.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.