Researchers at the National University of Singapore reported in September that they had produced genetically modified zebrafish that produce a vaccine for Hepatitis B in their muscles. Such research could one day pave the way for a cheaply produced, edible vaccine.
Leader researcher and zebrafish Gong Zhiyan concedes that there are still many unknowns about using genetically modified animals like this to produce vaccines. Zhiyan told The BBC,
We haven’t reached the stage yet where we know how many fish you would have to eat for a correct dose of vaccine, but based on the high levels of the protein they produce, it shouldn’t be much.
In addition, the vaccine would have to survive the passage through the digestion system and into the human bloodstream in a usable way.
To that end, the next step in this line of research will be producing and feeding these vaccine-producing zebrafish to animals to see if they confer protection from Hepatitis B when eaten.
Sources:
Edible vaccines ‘could end jabs’. The BBC, September 15, 2003.