BEIJING, Oct. 5 (Xinhuanet) --  Scientists in Singapore who have been striving to produce an edible SARS vaccine have made a breakthrough by using genetically-modified Lactobacillus to help lab mice acquire SARS antibodies. Lactobacillus is the bacterium used to make yoghurt.

    Singapore newspaper sources quote the leader of the SARS vaccine research group Lee Yuan Kun as saying cultured milk drinks may enable scientists to make edible SARS vaccines and it won't be long before people can acquire immunity to SARS simply by having a cup of yoghurt, China Radio International reported Monday.

    To produce this, a structurally simple virus is picked out from the coronavirus family, to which the SARS virus belongs. The surface protein of this virus is then cloned and put into Lactobacillus bacteria. Lab mice have developed immunity to SARS by acquiring antibodies against the coronavirus family after being fed the genetically-modified Lactobacillus.

    (CRIENGLISH.com)