GM Banana

Bananas are now being modified to bear fruits that contain antigens hence, triggering an immune response against specific pathogens. Charles Arntzen (email: charles.Arntzen@asu.edu) of the Boyce Thompson Institute (http://bti.cornell.edu/) for Plant Research at Cornell University (USA), is the man behind the idea of using these fruits as vectors for vaccines to combat deadly infectious diseases resulting from E. coli, Norwalk virus, cholera, hepatitis B virus, and tuberculosis. He said that current vaccines are prone to losing their effectiveness, as they require refrigeration form the point of manufacture to the point of use. Any break in this cold chain ensures the destruction of the vaccine. Once the technology of vaccinated fruit crops is perfected, protection against infectious diseases will be obtained simply by eating a fruit like a banana.

Related Topics:

• Current banana research
• Delayed Ripening
• Fungal Resistance
• Virus Resistance
• Nematode Resistance
• Banana with Vaccine
• Banana Vaccine Technology

Summary Report on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops - [View the 2004 report]

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Global Status of Approved Genetically Modified Plants -  [Click here]

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