Camel DNA may lead to better vaccines

The Arabian camel's genome has been mapped, say Saudi researchers who hope it will lead to health breakthroughs for people.

The potential for further research into the Arabian camel's immune system and milk could prove one of the discovery's greatest benefits.

ABU DHABI // Researchers say they have for the first time completely mapped the genome of the Arabian camel, a milestone that some believe will help to develop more powerful vaccines for human beings. It marks the first sequencing of a mammal's genome in the Middle East and the project's advocates say the information gleaned from the research could be used to develop more powerful vaccines and selectively breed camels for increased milk yield, speed and beauty.

Experts say the potential for further research into the Arabian camel's immune system and milk, thought to possess powerful nutritional qualities, could prove one of the discovery's greatest benefits. In fact, in 2006, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation called for increased consumption of camel milk, which may have antibodies that help fight cancer, HIV/Aids and hepatitis C. "We are proud to announce today that we have fully mapped the genome of the Arabian camel. It is the result of intensive collaborative research of more than 20 researchers over one year," said Dr Abdulaziz Alswailem, the project's principal investigator and co-ordinator of the Live Sciences and Environment Sector at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

Initial exploration into the project began six years ago. The sequencing, which involved 20 researchers, took just one year, and cost less than US$1 million (Dh3.67m). Unlocking the genome also helps reveal the secrets behind the Arabian camel's adaptability, which allows it to tolerate wide ranges of body temperature and massive water loss, and gives it the ability to drink 100 litres of water in 10 minutes.

Camels possess an immune system more resilient to disease than that of other mammals, and researchers say the discovery could lead to the development of more powerful vaccines for human beings using camel genetic sequencing to develop stronger antibodies that combat human diseases. It could also offer insights into how to protect other livestock from such afflictions as foot-and-mouth. The discovery has strong cultural symbolism for a region that cherishes the endurance of camels, nicknamed "the ships of the desert".

It was carried out by researchers from KACST and the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI). "I think the camel is kind of like the Chinese panda for the Saudi and the Arabian people," said Prof Wang Jian, the president of BGI. The research revealed that the camel genome is about 2.2 billion nucleotides in size. Nucleotides are molecules that make up DNA, the strands of genetic material that describe the functioning and development of different organisms.

By comparison, the human genome contains 3.2 billion nucleotides. Fifty-seven per cent of the Arabian camel's genes are shared with humans, the research showed. Dr Ulrich Wernery, the scientific director of the Dubai-based Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, said unlocking the genome could prove a boon to the camel-racing industry. Camel races in the UAE are divided into two categories: one involving local breeds and another for camels that are selectively bred with others from Sudan, which possess higher stamina and are faster.

To date, there has been no surefire way to differentiate the two, but the genome sequence could help prevent cheating in the arena, said Dr Wernery, who participated in the project that produced the world's first cloned camel, Injaz, last year. "Of course people want to win and it is very difficult for the owners and veterinarians to see if it is a hybrid or a local breed," he said. "We can of course [also] do a lot concerning camel diseases," he said.

For example, Arabian camels are less susceptible than South American camels to foot-and-mouth disease, he said, adding that "the reason lies in the different DNA and genome". Dr Wernery, who visited the KACST laboratory where the research is conducted, said he did not understand why the project took so long, but he was nevertheless excited about its prospects. "I am very happy to see they have finally succeeded," he said, giving him the opportunity to work with the camel genome before retirement. "I think it is a very big achievement for Saudi Arabia and it is wonderful that they did it."