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February 19, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Norwalk Virus Vaccine Grown in Tomatoes"

United Press International (www.upi.com) (02/16/03)

Researchers from Arizona State University in Tempe reported this weekend that they have developed a vaccine for the Norwalk virus that is grown in tomatoes.  The vaccine, which is currently awaiting approval for clinical studies in people, would be delivered in pills that contain free-dried tomato juice, the researchers said.  Freeze-drying the juice and putting it into pills should help alleviate some concerns about genetically modified plants accidentally entering the food supply, according to Arizona State geneticist Charles Arntzen.  Arntzen noted that while the Norwalk virus is mostly an inconvenience in the developed world, the disease can be deadly in other parts of the world, with many Third World children dying of dehydration caused by disease-induced diarrhea.

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