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May 13, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Carrots Modified to Contain Hepatitis B Vaccine"

Reuters Health Information Services (www.reutershealth.com) (05/10/02); Cleaver, Hannah

Tests of genetically altered carrots that contains the hepatitis B vaccine have reached pre-clinical trial status, according to German researchers.  While the existing hepatitis B vaccine is costly to make and requires three injections, the researchers say they can grow some 100,000 of the plants in two weeks and they are then ready to eat within three months.  Dr. Jafargholi Imani of Giessen University notes that carrots can be grown in many types of climate and soil, and they are simple to store, transport and can ideally be eaten uncooked.  The researchers have been developing the enriched carrots for about two years and are expected to report their findings in the Dutch journal Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture this summer.

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