Edible vaccine spawns antibodies to virus
By Nathan Seppa
Scientists have genetically engineered potatoes for the first time to deliver an edible vaccine against a common virus.
The researchers added to spuds the capsid protein that forms the shell around diarrhea-causing Norwalk virus. When eaten, the product stimulated volunteers’ immune systems to create a flood of antibodies. The response prevented Norwalk virus from latching onto cells lining the intestines, which causes disease.
Twenty volunteers ate two or three portions of raw, diced, genetically modified potatoes over 3 weeks. Four other volunteers consumed unaltered potatoes. Blood samples taken over the next 2 months revealed that 19 of 20 people getting the edible vaccine had elevated concentrations of antibodies against Norwalk virus, although the rise varied between individuals.