Humans have been raising cows for their meat, hides and milk
for millennia. Now it appears that the cow immune system also has something to
offer. A new study led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI)
focusing on an extraordinary family of cow antibodies points to new ways to
make human medicines.
“These antibodies’ structure and their mechanism for
creating diversity haven’t been seen before in other animals’ antibodies,” said
Vaughn V. Smider, assistant professor of cell and molecular biology at TSRI and
principal investigator for the study, which appears as the cover story in the
June 6, 2013 issue of the journal Cell.