04:48Scientists at the Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics in Tashkent are trialling what they claim is the 'first edible COVID-19 vaccine' - in the form of a special kind of tomato called TOMAVAC - as seen in footage from the laboratory and greenhouses Monday.
PhD candidate Shukhrat Shermatov explained that the work involved introducing a protein responsible for the formation of antibodies against coronavirus into the plant's genome.
"We took this gene, we inserted it into the genome, into the DNA of the tomato, and the tomato began to form proteins that cause an immune response. And when you eat this tomato, the proteins reach the intestinal mucosa, and immunoglobulin A is formed there, while immunoglobulin G starts to form in the blood. So it is actually a two-stage defence," said Shermatov.
Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics Director Zabardast Buriev added that following successful experiments on mice, the scientists began trials with volunteers.
"We gathered 20 people who had a low titre [concentration of antibodies to COVID-19]. [They] were advised to eat 50 grams of tomatoes first thing in the morning on an empty stomach - that's about one tomato. They ate tomatoes for three days, and after a two-week pause, we checked the antibody titre, and their antibody titre was higher. After six to eight weeks we did a neutralisation test and our experiment showed that yes, indeed, this vaccine works for humans too. The vaccine was named TOMAVAC," added Buriev.
The director mentioned that plans were also underway to start developing other edible vaccines against diseases such as tuberculosis, salmonella and diphtheria.
"It's already a very environmentally friendly product, and the very useful side is that you don't need to build big factories to [produce] this vaccine. You can get enough vaccines in a small, a thousand square metre greenhouse," he said, adding that the vaccine, as specialised product, would not be released on the open market.
TOMAVAC has been registered with the World Health Organisation as a vaccine undergoing preclinical trials.
'No different from ordinary tomatoes' - Tashkent scientists trial 'first edible COVID-19 vaccine'
Scientists at the Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics in Tashkent are trialling what they claim is the 'first edible COVID-19 vaccine' - in the form of a special kind of tomato called TOMAVAC - as seen in footage from the laboratory and greenhouses Monday.
PhD candidate Shukhrat Shermatov explained that the work involved introducing a protein responsible for the formation of antibodies against coronavirus into the plant's genome.
"We took this gene, we inserted it into the genome, into the DNA of the tomato, and the tomato began to form proteins that cause an immune response. And when you eat this tomato, the proteins reach the intestinal mucosa, and immunoglobulin A is formed there, while immunoglobulin G starts to form in the blood. So it is actually a two-stage defence," said Shermatov.
Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics Director Zabardast Buriev added that following successful experiments on mice, the scientists began trials with volunteers.
"We gathered 20 people who had a low titre [concentration of antibodies to COVID-19]. [They] were advised to eat 50 grams of tomatoes first thing in the morning on an empty stomach - that's about one tomato. They ate tomatoes for three days, and after a two-week pause, we checked the antibody titre, and their antibody titre was higher. After six to eight weeks we did a neutralisation test and our experiment showed that yes, indeed, this vaccine works for humans too. The vaccine was named TOMAVAC," added Buriev.
The director mentioned that plans were also underway to start developing other edible vaccines against diseases such as tuberculosis, salmonella and diphtheria.
"It's already a very environmentally friendly product, and the very useful side is that you don't need to build big factories to [produce] this vaccine. You can get enough vaccines in a small, a thousand square metre greenhouse," he said, adding that the vaccine, as specialised product, would not be released on the open market.
TOMAVAC has been registered with the World Health Organisation as a vaccine undergoing preclinical trials.
Scientists at the Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics in Tashkent are trialling what they claim is the 'first edible COVID-19 vaccine' - in the form of a special kind of tomato called TOMAVAC - as seen in footage from the laboratory and greenhouses Monday.
PhD candidate Shukhrat Shermatov explained that the work involved introducing a protein responsible for the formation of antibodies against coronavirus into the plant's genome.
"We took this gene, we inserted it into the genome, into the DNA of the tomato, and the tomato began to form proteins that cause an immune response. And when you eat this tomato, the proteins reach the intestinal mucosa, and immunoglobulin A is formed there, while immunoglobulin G starts to form in the blood. So it is actually a two-stage defence," said Shermatov.
Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics Director Zabardast Buriev added that following successful experiments on mice, the scientists began trials with volunteers.
"We gathered 20 people who had a low titre [concentration of antibodies to COVID-19]. [They] were advised to eat 50 grams of tomatoes first thing in the morning on an empty stomach - that's about one tomato. They ate tomatoes for three days, and after a two-week pause, we checked the antibody titre, and their antibody titre was higher. After six to eight weeks we did a neutralisation test and our experiment showed that yes, indeed, this vaccine works for humans too. The vaccine was named TOMAVAC," added Buriev.
The director mentioned that plans were also underway to start developing other edible vaccines against diseases such as tuberculosis, salmonella and diphtheria.
"It's already a very environmentally friendly product, and the very useful side is that you don't need to build big factories to [produce] this vaccine. You can get enough vaccines in a small, a thousand square metre greenhouse," he said, adding that the vaccine, as specialised product, would not be released on the open market.
TOMAVAC has been registered with the World Health Organisation as a vaccine undergoing preclinical trials.