This document discusses the role of stem cells, particularly induced pluripotent stem cells, in treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through a project called Medicell. Medicell uses microtechnology to implant specialized stem cells designed to target and destroy specific viruses, including HIV, HPV, and various types of hepatitis. The document outlines the mechanisms of these cells and their implantation locations in the body for effective treatment.

1. Stem cells in the treatement
of STI's
Medicell
PROJECT REALISED BY ANTON MARIA AND STANESCU RALUCA CRISTINA
10TH GRADE

2. Stem cells are the foundation of
development in plants, animals and
humans. In humans, there are many
different types of stem cells that come
from different places in the body or are
formed at different times in our lives.
These include embryonic stem cells that
exist only at the earliest stages of
development and various types of tissue-
specific (or adult) stem cells that appear
during fetal development and remain in
our bodies throughout life.
A LITTLE SOMETHING
ABOUT STEM CELLS...

3. They can divide and renew
themselves over a long time;
They are unspecialized, so they
cannot do specific functions in the
body;
They have the potential to become
specialized cells, such as muscle
cells, blood cells, and brain cells.

4. There are several types of
stem cells:
Embryonic stem cells ;
Tissue-specific stem cells ;
Mesenchymal stem cells ;
Induced pluripotent stem cells.
In our presentation, we have
chosen to use induced
pluripotent stem cells.

5. While iPS cells share many of the same
characteristics of embryonic stem cells,
including the ability to give rise to all the cell
types in the body, they aren’t exactly the
same. Scientists are exploring what these
differences are and what they mean. For one
thing, the first iPS cells were produced by
using viruses to insert extra copies of genes
into tissue-specific cells. Researchers are
experimenting with many alternative ways to
create iPS cells so that they can ultimately
be used as a source of cells or tissues for
medical treatments.
INDUCED PLURIPOTEN
T STEM CELLS

6. Sexually transmitted infections (STI), also
referred to as sexually transmitted
diseases (STD) and venereal
diseases (VD), are infections that are
commonly spread by sex, especially vaginal
intercourse, anal sex or oral sex. Most STIs
initially do not cause symptoms.This results
in a greater risk of passing the disease on to
others. Symptoms and signs of disease may
include vaginal discharge, penile
discharge, ulcers on or around the genitals,
and pelvic pain. STIs acquired before or
during birth may result in poor outcomes for
the baby. Some STIs may cause problems
with the ability to get pregnant.
STI's

7. Some STI's already have a
treatement,
like Chancroid, Chlamydia, He
rpes, Gonorrhea (The Clap).
Others, like HPV / Warts, HIV
/ AIDS, Hepatitis A, B, C, D
&E are cureless for now. Chancroid virus
Chlamydia virus
Gonorrhea virus

8. HPV / Warts is a cureless STD, viral infection
of the skin in the genital area & female’s cervix.
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system.
If untreated, a person’s immune system will
eventually be completely destroyed.
AIDS refers to a set of symptoms and illnesses
that occur at the very final stage of HIV
infection.
Type A hepatitis is contracted through anal-oral
contact, by coming incontact with the feces of some
one with hepatitis A,or by eating or drinking hepatiti
s A contaminated food or water.
HIV virus
HPV virus

9. Type B hepatitis can be contracted from infected blood,
seminal fluid, vaginal secretions,
or contaminated drug needles, including tattoo or body-
piercing equipment.It can also be spread from a mother
to her newborn.
Type C hepatitis is not easily spread through sex. You’re
more likely to get
it through contact with infected blood, contaminated raz
ors, needles, tattoo and bodypiercing equipment,or man
icure or pedicure tools that haven’t been properly sanitiz
ed, and a mother can pass it to her baby during delivery.
Type D hepatitis can be passed through contact with infe
cted blood, contaminated needles, or by sexual
contact with an HIV-infected person.
Type E hepatitis is most likely to be transmitted in feces,
through oral contact, or
in water that’s been contaminated.
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis E virus
Hepatitis D virus
Hepatitis C virus

10. Nowadays, STI's have become a
major problem in the medical field.
Even if most of them have a cure,
there still are deseases that
couldn't be treated... Until now.
Medicell was created to help people
that suffer from HIV/AIDS, HPV
and Hepatitis. The
microtechnology used in the
development of this device uses 3
types of final cells: hepatic, blood
cells and epithelial.
Medicell

11. All 3 types of Medicell are implanted
in specific locations.
Medicell H is implanted in the
abdomnial cavity, near the liver.
Medicell S is also placed in the
abdominal cavity, but this time in the
abdominal wall.
Medicell E is smaller than the
previous two and it can be implanted
right under the skin.
Where can they be
found?
Abdominal wall
Abdominal cavity, near
the liver
Epitelial tissue

12. Medicells are designed to find and
destroy a specific type of virus.
They use the same mechanisms as
neutrophils ( a type of white blood
cell) : once the virus is located,
the cells extend their traps and
catch it. Inside the cell, the
specialized organelles surround the
virus, covering it with an isolating
membrane. It is then transfered into
the circulatory system
and eliminated through urine.
HOW DO THEY
WORK?

13. They are created to fight against all 5
types of Hepatitis.
Their structure is very similar to the one
of hepatic cells, helping them to blend
into their suroundings and tricking the
virus.
By placing the device near the liver
trough a minimally, non invasive
procedure, it is ensured that the
Medicells H will reach their destination
in time to fight the virus.
MEDICELL
S H
Hepatic lobule

14. This type of cells mimics the
neutrophils on the outside and
the inside, with the exception
that its traps are made to
catch the HIV virus and not
bacteria.
The placement of the device
ensures that the cells reach the
blood stream quickly, the
abdominal wall being well
vascularised.
MEDICELL
S S
Neutrophils

15. Since the HPV virus is affecting
the skin, this type of Medicell
had to be placed as close to the
surface of the body as possible,
near the genital area. The
modified epithelial cells are
spreading through the normal
cells and replacing a big part of
them. The virus is then trapped
and sent into the bloodstream to
be eliminated from the body.
MEDICELL
S E
Epithelial cells

16. It consists of a medically
aproved vascular access
catheter which will be
prevascularized and will stay
in the human body for a
short period of time before
being removed.
THE
DEVICE

17. https://www.avert.org/about-hiv-aids/what-hiv-aids
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexually_transmitted_infection
http://www.closerlookatstemcells.org/learn-about-stem-cells/types-
of-stem-cells#tissue-specific
https://www.std-gov.org/stds/std.htm
https://www.std-gov.org/stds/hepatitis.htm
Bibliography