Altered Eggs Combat E. coli

Altered Eggs Combat E. coli

KOREA--Egg Biotech Inc., based here, produced an immunoglobulin-enriched (IgY)egg that may protect against enterotoxigenic E. coli and helicobacterpyroli. Scientists injected hens with bacteria isolated from humans in order tocoax the hens' immune systems to develop antibodies against the germs. Within amonth, hens laid eggs with yolks containing the antigens.

The egg, known as Doctor IgY, has a Korean patent pending; patents have alsobeen filed in the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom. Each egg produces20 to 40 mg of the antigen for E. coli and 20 to 180 mg of the antigenfor helicobacter pyroli. Nam-hyung added that unlike antibiotics, peopleconsuming the eggs have shown no adverse events. For additional information,visit www.koreatimes.co.kr.