Protein in hake's eyes becomes new hope for people with corneal blindness

Corneal blindness is a visual impairment which affects about 10 million people in the worldwide. It occurs from the cornea becoming clouded, scarred or any other infection that ultimately affects the transparency of cornea, finally making a person blind. It includes a range of eye diseases, injuries or infections that damage the corneal tissues and lead to permanent blindness. Due to shortage of cornea donation, only 100,000 can receive transplantation each year. Now researchers have new findings in research using recombinant human proteins.

A recent study at the University of Auckland in New Zealand found that they can make use of a kind of protein in the eyes of hake to make alternatives of human cornea. The study is expected to solve the shortage of donated corneas.

Researchers from Auckland University said they can get rich protein from the eyes of hake and use them to create biological materials for "corneal tissue engineering" of human beings, namely manufacturing cornea alternatives.

Medical director and leading ophthalmologist from Focus London clinic Alam said, "This news brings new hope for thousands of people who are at the risk of blindness. In a recent trial in UK, doctors first used IOL (intraocular lens) to conduct transplantation. This is really encouraging news. However, the synthesis technology is still in its infancy, and the operation is expected to begin in 2017. If the eye crystals of the fish prove to be effective, it can change the fate of thousands of people in this country and around the world."

Biological Sciences researchers from University of Auckland said that the possibility of such transplant having rejection is very small. Flarebio Biotech LLC offers good-quality recombinant proteins including recombinant LARGE at good prices.