"Genetically Altered Potato Aids Immune Response." New York Times, 28
April 98, C5. "Banana May Replace Needle In Childhood Vaccines."
Washington Times, 28 April 98, A11.
According to a report in the May _Journal of Natural Medicine_,
researchers may be now be a little closer to eliminating some of those
vaccination shots all people face. Carol Tacket of the University of
Maryland School of Medicine and Charles Arntzen of the Boyce Tompson
Institute for Plant Research were among the researchers who worked on
the study. Potatoes were genetically engineered to produce a protein
that stimulated human immune responses against the form of E.coli
responsible for diarrhea in infants and tourists journeying to other
countries. They did not test actual immunity against the bacteria, but
only whether the vaccine survived the digestive systems of subjects who
ate the potatoes. Nearly all of the subjects developed antibodies in
their blood. Edible vaccines could be used to combat diseases spread by
the mouth, or to combine several vaccine shots into one food.
Has any peer review been done on this study?
Susan Snow
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