The invention, a joint research with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, is capable of halting effects of Norwalk virus in the human body incase of consumption of poisoned food. The researchers add that eating the modified and vaccine inclusive sweet potato successfully curtail food -borne illness. The triggering of immunity against a virus by eating a sweet potato is not the first invention. The Thompson Institute developed a vaccine against the highly killer Hepatitis B, still using a genetically modified sweet potato last year. Should this scientific venture materialize, as researchers says is the position, the concept of edible vaccine could provide inexpensive protection for most of the world's poorest population, many incapable of affording the conventional vaccine, and where administered free, lack means of reaching at the designated centres.
Many countries produce sweet potatoes in thousands of tons making it their staple food.
This means that the genetically modified sweet potato could not only offer starch and carbohydrates to their consumers but also guard against food-borne illness. If the transgenic sweet potato fronted by KARI proves a success, then it should not hesitate borrowing the vaccine theory from their counterparts in America. The percentage of poor quality milk from co-operative societies processing milk is very high.