Goat's milk against malaria
In a couple of years, your herd of goats could be able to supply the entire population of Africa with a vaccine against malaria. Numerous research efforts around the world, all seeking the remedy against malaria, are on the brink of breakthroughs. However, few seem promising in terms of availability and affordability for the millions of people exposed to the parasite (see Spore 97, main article). A researcher at the US-based National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Anthony Stowers, is one of many to take up the challenge of developing a medicine which is cheap to manufacture, for use in countries hardest hit. NIAID teamed up with the Genzyme Transgenics Corporation and produced two transgenic mouse strains that carry a form of the gene of a surface protein from the lethal malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The cells in the mammary glands switch on the transgenes, releasing the vaccine protein in the animal s milk. Since mice produce very little milk, a similar test was carried out on goats. With reasonable success. In January 2002, NIAID announced that the vaccine in goat s milk worked for four out of five vaccinated monkeys, whereas six out of seven unvaccinated monkeys died of malaria. The laboratory will start clinical tests with humans in 2003. [caption to illustration] A li'l bit a guinea corn porridge Wid a li'l bit a goat milk Is the sweetest thing you ever taste Believe me ya stomach da feel like silk Daisy 'Wong' Richardson (Anguilla)
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| Format: | News Item biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation
2002
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/47629 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/99603 |
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| Summary: | In a couple of years, your herd of goats could be able to supply the entire population of Africa with a vaccine against malaria. Numerous research efforts around the world, all seeking the remedy against malaria, are on the brink of breakthroughs. However, few seem promising in terms of availability and affordability for the millions of people exposed to the parasite (see Spore 97, main article).
A researcher at the US-based National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Anthony Stowers, is one of many to take up the challenge of developing a medicine which is cheap to manufacture, for use in countries hardest hit. NIAID teamed up with the Genzyme Transgenics Corporation and produced two transgenic mouse strains that carry a form of the gene of a surface protein from the lethal malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The cells in the mammary glands switch on the transgenes, releasing the vaccine protein in the animal s milk.
Since mice produce very little milk, a similar test was carried out on goats. With reasonable success. In January 2002, NIAID announced that the vaccine in goat s milk worked for four out of five vaccinated monkeys, whereas six out of seven unvaccinated monkeys died of malaria. The laboratory will start clinical tests with humans in 2003.
[caption to illustration]
A li'l bit a guinea corn porridge Wid a li'l bit a goat milk
Is the sweetest thing you ever taste Believe me ya stomach da feel like silk
Daisy 'Wong' Richardson (Anguilla) |
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