GMO tobacco ‘mystery serum’ rescues Ebola virus victims

Genetic Literacy Project ^ | 8/6/2014 | Meredith Knight

[OneWingedShark]

Thank you.
I've been kicking around the idea of making a bid for `16 — I have no faith in pretty much all of the people offered up.

(I really like Mr. Cruz, but he was born in Canada and so I don't think is eligible under the Natural Born Citizen requirement; I don't like Palin because she supports/defends McCain, an enemy of the States — and the rest are people like Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, Chris Christie, and Rick Perry.)

[Valpal1]

CMM is now reporting both. I think their original source was mistaken. The great thing about “plantibodies” is that much larger quantities for much less cost can be obtained from tobacco than from animals. Bonus, you don’t have to deal with animal rights activists.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/04/health/ebola-drug-questions/index.html

Sources told CNN the medicine given to Brantly and Writebol abroad was a three-mouse monoclonal antibody, meaning that mice were exposed to fragments of the Ebola virus and then the antibodies generated within the mice’s blood were harvested to create the medicine.
However, the drug can also be produced with proteins made from tobacco plants. ZMapp manufacturer Kentucky BioProcessing in Owensboro has been working with Samaritan’s Purse and Emory University Hospital to provide limited quantities of the drug to Emory, according to company spokesman David Howard.

[familyop]

Thanks. So if the serum is found to be of some appreciable help if administered within 24 hours of infection, how will patients without symptoms receive the serum during that period?

[Valpal1]

If large amounts can be cheaply manufactured, they can give prophylactic doses to medical personnel as well as family members or anyone having contact with a sick person.

[Wuli]

Wow. Thanks for the info (I followed with confirming research). I should have done my research first. I took it (on faith?) that because the tobacco plants in the article were not mentioned as GMO tobacco plants, that they were not GMO. My mistake.

[Veto!]

he got the transfusion and walked into the hospital and she didn’t get the transfusion and went in on a gurney wasn’t lost on me.

At least one other factor here: she's 30 +/- years older than he is. I hope she recovers.

[TigersEye]

I saw that. I was just joking.

[imardmd1]

I’m sorry that I missed that your post was jokingly offered. I guess several others also did. My regrets at being insensitive.