Monday, November 07, 2005

Rice-based Vaccine To Treat Allergies

The University of Tokyo and Shimane University have developed a vaccine that can be taken orally by eating rice. It works on mice, what doesn't these days, and could be developed into a vaccine that treats allergies in humans.

Gee, another reason to eat rice. Just what I need. Seriously though it's a great idea. But they have missed the target market widely. Only when they can incorporate the vaccine into burgers, chips and fast food will it have any impact in America, Europe and Australia. But then again the researchers were Japanese and what did they have an abundance of to work with? I thought Westerners suffered more from allergies than any other race due to we being to clean and the body not being able to handle germs as it was designed.

7 comments:

Joe said...

Not to mention the fact that all of the Atkins dieters would never get vaccinated.

Then again, there's always sake...and it has the added benefit of inebriation.

Hammy said...

Rice wine - I hadn't thought of that.

Ben said...

“I thought Westerners suffered more from allergies than any other race due to we being to clean and the body not being able to handle germs as it was designed.” That’s exactly the reason. I am glad you figured that out.

"The oral vaccine, which uses genetically modified rice to build up the immune system," I wonder if that would be readily accepted.

I want to know if countries that practise more body contacts like handshake, kisses, hugging (e.g. France) have more or less allergies sufferers. Any website with statistics?

Personally, I will add keeping away from germs is not a mean to stay healthy; it’s just delaying the onset and makes the disease more virulent. E.g. which does more damage to the body? Getting chicken pox as a child or as an adult.

Have a look at those BBC links, on worms and allergies.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4215234.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3287733.stm

Anonymous said...

Not all that keen on rice myself. Would that mean I would not take my medicine, and have to suffer these damned allergies for ever?

Hammy said...

Seeing as it is a vaccine I guess you could forget about medicines dealing with the allergies. Good news for all.

Anonymous said...

I was under the impression that vaccines are still midicine?!

Hammy said...

You wouldn't need to be concerned with taking hayfever tablets and the like once you had had a vaccination.