ORLANDO, Fla., Dec 19, 2005 (UPI via COMTEX) -- University of Central Florida scientists say they've found a safe and effective method of producing large quantities of anthrax vaccine. The researchers say enough anthrax vaccine to inoculate everyone in the United States could be grown inexpensively and safely with only one acre of tobacco plants. Professor of Molecular Biology Henry Daniell led a study that involved mice immunized with a vaccine produced in Daniell's laboratory by genetically engineering tobacco plants.
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Oh my!? Could it be that there is an elegant and inexpensive solution to the fears of an entire nation in the tobacco plant (GASP!).? I can't stand having my patients smoking cigarettes.? Yet, they do.? I assist them to quit when they are ready.? I use acupuncture, medication, pleading, begging and when all else fails I actually pray for them (honestly, I pray for them every time).? I am excited to see Yankee ingenuity figuring out a "fix" against the onslaught of the unwashed violent maniacs called terrorists.? If we can use one acre of tobacco to immunize a nation against anthrax can you imagine what we could do with a Texas-sized ranch?? It boggles the mind.?
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Immunization as a mechanism for social control, corporate profit or medical hegemony (My idea is the only right one)?is unacceptable.? Safe practices of immunization to stimulate the immune system make perfect sense to me.? I like the idea of inhaled immunization products?(our immune system was created to respond to that kind of stimulus).? Flu vaccines make me a little bit uncomfortable unless they are absolutely?necessary.? The rest we can evaluate on a case-by-case basis.? If we are threatened with anthrax I say let's cultivate a couple of acres of tobacco and hem the crop?in with netting to?prevent the spread of pollen to other crops.? I think we could afford it.?
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I like it when novel ideas produce positive results.? This is the kind of thing that should make news.? I'm looking forward to the day when we can create enough vaccine for the entire planet to thwart the enemies of freedom on just a few acres.? That day is almost here!
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Merry Christmas.?
