Red Biotechnology

1. INTRODUCTION
Red Biotechnology is a major branch of major biotechnology which uses a number of techniques and utilizes living organisms to improve the health care [1]. It is also known as “Health Biotechnology” and “Medical Biotechnology”. It is mainly utilized in the field of biopharmaceuticals and medicine, but also play a key role in enhancing the quality of life. Furthermore, it is getting popularity in the field of research and trials for disease diagnosis and gene therapy [2]. Benefits of red biotechnology include the genetic engineering, production of medicines and vaccines, treatment of infectious life-threatening diseases, etc. Many vaccines have been developed by using red biotechnology against many viral infections e.g. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, etc.

2. MAJOR TRENDS IN RED BIOTECHNOLOGY
2.1. VACCINE PRODUCTION
Vaccination is a biological process that provides immunity against any viral infection. A vaccine contains the weakened, live or dead agent in it, which resembles to the infection causing agent. This agent helps the host immune system to recognize the infectious agent and then fight againstit [3]. Vaccination is the most effective way to combat any contagious viral infection e.g. Hepatitis B. This process of vaccine development and vaccination is made possible by the use of red biotechnology.

2.2. ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION
Antibiotics are the antimicrobial or antibacterial substances that kills or reduce the growth of bacteria. They include a number of drugs that are used to treat many bacterial diseases, but they cannot be used against viral infections [4]. Antibiotic production is getting more advancement by the use of red biotechnology techniques. 

2.3. MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
Molecular diagnostic techniques are the best part of red biotechnology which are used to diagnose the infectious agent, even in a small amount. Many molecular techniques are used for this purpose e.g. ELISA, hybridization, real time PCR, etc. [5].These techniques are improved with use of red biotechnology to give more effective results.

2.4. GENETIC ENGINEERING
Genetic engineering is the use and manipulation of genetic material of living organisms to make the biological products for the welfare of mankind [6] . These biological products include the drugs, interferons, growth hormones, insulin, proteins, etc. These products are then used for the treatment of different genetic and infectious diseases. This whole process is made possible with the use of different techniques of red biotechnology e.g. gene splicing, recombinant DNA technique, hybridoma formation, monoclonal antibody production and many more.

2.5. GENE THERAPY
Gene therapy is the most advanced technique of red biotechnology [7]. It is used to treat many
genetic diseases which cannot be cured by other ways. In this technique, genes are inserted into
patient’s cell instead of using drugs and surgeries.

3. REFERENCES
[1] E. J. DaSilva, “The colours of biotechnology: science, development and humankind,” Electron. J. Biotechnol., vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 1–2, 2004.

[2] K. M. A. Gartland, F. Bruschi, M. Dundar, P. B. Gahan, M. P. V. Magni, and Y. Akbarova, “Progress towards the ‘Golden Age’of biotechnology,” Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., vol. 24, pp. S6–S13, 2013.

[3] B. Pulendran and R. Ahmed, “Immunological mechanisms of vaccination,” Nat. Immunol., vol. 12, no. 6, p. 509, 2011.

[4] G. L. Cromwell, “Why and how antibiotics are used in swine production,” Anim. Biotechnol., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 7–27, 2002.

[5] W. W. Grody, R. M. Nakamura, F. L. Kiechle, and C. Strom, Molecular diagnostics: techniques and applications for the clinical laboratory. Academic Press, 2009.

[6] V. G. Pursel et al., “Genetic engineering of livestock,” Science (80-. )., vol. 244, no. 4910, pp. 1281–1288, 1989.

[7] I. M. Verma et al., “Gene therapy: promises, problems and prospects,” in Genes and
Resistance to Disease, Springer, 2000, pp. 147–157.