Androlog Mail:
Dear Colleagues;
I am immunologist and interested in infertility and contraception
research, and looking for a Dept to host the following proposals:
(CV will be sent on request)
1. The use of sperm antigens for contraception: I have produced a
monoclonal antibody, GDA-J/F6, which reacts specifically with a
surface antigen on the human sperm which is localized to an area
overlying the acrosome. Tissue distribution studies showed its
restricted expression to the sperm.
These features render GDA-J/F6 antigen ideal as a contraceptive
vaccine, but biochemical and functional investigations are,
undoubtedly, required for its characterisation.
2. Targeting the sperm tail fibrous sheath (FS) for sperm
immobilisation: The FS is a unique and major cytoskeletal element
within the sperm tail. Over the years, I, myself, have studied this
structure, and its function, in my opinion, is to convert the linear
sliding movement of the flagellar microtubules into waves. I have
also shown that some of the FS antigens are phosphorylated; this
phosphorylation is important for regulating the amplitude of flagellar
wave and consequently motility. The phosphorylation itself is
controlled through cell signaling as it happens, for instance, during
the maturation of sperm in the epididymis where sperm acquires
motility; or following acrosomal reaction when the sperm
encounters the ovum and the pattern of its motility starts to change
to "hyperactive". By targeting phosphorylation, synthesis or
assembly of the FS proteins by chemical (drug) or immunological
means, sperm immobilization could be achieved as a method of
contraception.
3. Gene manipulation of the cervical cells
Thanking you in anticipation and looking forward to
hearing from you soon.
Yours Sincerely
Dr Ali Jassim
Tel: 0171-377 7810
Fax: 0171-377 7807
Dept of Rheumatology
Royal London Hospital (Mile End)
Bancroft Road
London E1 4DG
e-mail address:
A.Jassim@QMW.AC.Uk
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