Researchers in Japan Invent Mask that Glows When Exposed to Coronavirus
December 15, 2021| |
A team of scientists at Kyoto Prefectural University headed by its president, Yasuhiro Tsukamoto, has developed masks that glow when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light if they contain traces of the COVID-19 coronavirus, using antibodies extracted from ostrich eggs.
In February 2020, the team injected an inactive and non-threatening form of the coronavirus into female ostriches, successfully extracting a large quantity of antibodies from the eggs that they laid. The team then developed a special filter placed inside the face mask. The filter can be taken out and sprayed with a fluorescent dye containing the coronavirus antibodies from the ostrich eggs. If the virus is present, the filter will glow under UV light.
The team conducted experiments for 10 days with 32 people infected with COVID-19 and found that all the masks they wore glowed under UV light, which faded as time went by and their viral load decreased.
For more details, read this article.
| |
You might also like:
- Facemask Detects COVID-19 Virus in 90 Minutes
- Team of Experts Develop Nasal Spray Against COVID-19 Virus
- UC San Diego Researchers Develop CRISPR-based Rapid Diagnostic Tool for SARS-CoV-2
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Researchers Find High Yields with Small Environmental Impact Possible for Rice
- ISAAA Launches Brief 56 - Breaking Barriers with Breeding: A Primer on New Breeding Innovations for Food Security
- Report Presents Africa's Growing Hunger Crisis
- Nigeria and Partners Launch Bt Cowpea Nutrition Outreach
- Report Highlights Biotech Updates and New Technologies in Brazil
- EFSA Releases Scientific Opinion on Three-Event Stack GM Maize NK603 × T25 × DAS-40278-9
-
Research Highlights
- Rice Gene OsNAC5 Contributes to Drought Tolerance Through Lignin Buildup in Roots
- Key Mechanism of C4 Photosynthesis Now Explained
-
Plant
- CRISPR Glows Up With Biosensor Detectors
- US University Sends Cotton to Space to Explore Potentials of Somatic Embryogenesis in Genome Editing
- CRISPR Experts Introduce Twin Prime Editing
-
Health
- Researchers in Japan Invent Mask that Glows When Exposed to Coronavirus
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 17, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 10, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet