Scientists create powerful flu vaccines from silkworm DNA

Researchers said they have developed a new method of creating large amounts of flu vaccine by using the genetic code of silkworms. They said the new procedure is quicker and less costly than conventional methods. The major component of flu vaccines is a special protein that exists on the surface of flu viruses. Led by Kuniaki Nerome, director of a biological resources center in Nago, the team of researchers synthesized DNA that helps enable the protein based on the genetic information of a flu virus. The scientists then introduced the synthesized DNA into the genetic code of silkworms. After the silkworms turned into chrysalides, Nerome and his colleagues crushed the insect pupae and purified the resulting powder. They then found the special proteins with exceptional high purity on the surface of the powder particles. They also discovered that the structure of the particles was similar to that of flu viruses, which means vaccines made from...