Genetically Modified Tomatoes as Oral Vaccine Against Alzheimer’s Disease?
How would you like your tomato to be able to protect you from Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s Disease is believed to be caused by the accumulation of beta-amyloid, a toxic insoluble fibrous protein in the brain, which leads to the death of neurons. Thus, to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers are trying to find ways of the build up of these substances by stimulating the immune system, e.g. with a vaccine, to reduce beta-amyloid in the brain.
Korean researchers have genetically modified tomatoes to carry the gene for the human amyloid
for the purpose of using it as an oral, edible vaccine.
Using Agrobacterium-mediated nuclear transformation, we generated transgenic tomatoes for Aβ with tandem repeats. Integration of the human Aβ gene into the tomato genome and its transcription were detected by PCR and Northern blot, respectively. Expression of the Aβ protein was confirmed by western blot and ELISA, and then the transgenic tomato line expressing the highest protein level was selected for vaccination. Mice immunized orally with total soluble extracts from the transgenic tomato plants elicited an immune response after receiving a booster. The results indicate that tomato plants may provide a useful system for the production of human Aβ antigen.
Clearly, this line of research is still in the early stages. All it was able to show was that the tomatoes did elicit an immune response in the test animals. Whether those animals were actually protected against Alzheimers disease was not reported.
Hat Tip: Biotech Weblog, Photo Credit: freestuf
This is one of the benefits of agricultural biotechnology. And I bet scientists will continue coming up with innovative products through the use of genetic engineering.
It’s interesting that they did see some response from the animal tests. I know many people are against genetic modification, but I personally am for it if it is able to help with disease prevention, especially with one as debilitating as Alzheimer’s.
I loved this article because everybody eats but we are losing choice over the quality of food and therefore our quality of life. NOTHING affects us like what we eat- food even determines the LIMITS WE ARE WILLING TO PUT ON OURSELVES…I think Steiner and Schauberger had it right about biodynamic farming and water and we MUST go back to basics like ORGANIC and RAW FOOD. I have converted my whole family over to raw and we have all benefitted with superb health and actual happiness. we created a film called RAISING CHILDREN RAISES US on dvd where you can see my healthy kids drinking smoothies with spinach in them and loving it. One of my fave recipes is CHOCOLATE PUDDING made with NO DAIRY, EGGS, GLUTEN, SUGAR or COOKING! In 2 minutes using an avocado everybody can do this and LOVE IT! FOR THIS RECIPE AND OTHERS please find me at rawmom or foreverhealthy.net and EAT FABULOUS! xo
Simply amazing. I love the idea of using foods that heal. Right now I have been also highly impressed by The OPO E Gene Diet, by Pam McDonald. It has re-defined the ongoing discussion about the foods we eat and their effects on our cardiovascular, neurological, health and long-term chronic illness outcome. I highly recommend reading it.