কৃমিমারী কলা(Wormkiller Banana)

We are focused on eradicating roundworm infection i.e ascariasis in children of Bangladesh. Roundworm is a highly prevalent parasite and it affects around 1 billion people worldwide, mostly in tropical countries. Bangladesh is no exception, as children with enlarged stomachs due to ascariasis can be found in rural and marginalized areas. Current deworming policies and therapeutic approaches are efficient when administered, but they are not widespread. We propose a vaccination approach to prevent the disease, by developing a banana-based vaccine, a fruit that grows in the same regions. We will express the vaccine in the fruit in controlled level, which can be distributed everywhere. Children falling outside the radar for vaccination can also be reached. Vaccine-carrying banana cultivation can have economic benefits as well. Ascariasis leads to childhood malnutrition and may hinder subsequent growth. Our solution can provide a healthy childhood and warm future for children of Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, roundworm infection is highly prevalent among children. It is estimated that 64 to 95 percent of all children are infected at with the parasite. Although roundworms are not directly lethal, they are responsible for malnutrition. In a society prone with low-nutrition diets, roundworms may have more impact on future generations than expected. We have national de-worming day and provide anti-worm therapeutics to children, but that does not cover everyone. Specially rural children in marginalized areas and floating children from urban slums do not get this coverage properly. We need to devise a plan to confer resistance to the parasite in childhood among all children, not just follow therapeutic intervention when worms are found. This solution needs to be easily scalable and accessible, and also have a per capita low cost.

The population we are targeting belong to the low-income group, specially the people who live in households with poor sanitation and on ground level. People from remote and economically backward rural communities are vulnerable the most. Also, urban slums where sanitation is nearly non-existent and children are easily exposed to dirt also have a high prevalence. In many cases, they do not get the de-worming facilities and can not afford the medication if children suffer from ascariasis. They can be persuaded to take a one-time or periodically repeated vaccination if it assured them of a better health. A vaccine-containing banana can be preserved and distributed to most remote regions and most densely populated slums equally. It is a comfortable form of vaccine delivery for the children, with easier followup. It can be provided both commercially and through Government-run healthcare systems in dose-dependent manner.

We will be providing bananas that carry specific vaccines against roundworm i.e. Ascaris lumbricoides. Vaccines are immunogenic antigens i.e. protein chains that inform the body's immune system about a potential pathogen. When body recognizes that protein as a mark of infection, subsequent recognition of the antigen leads to immune response. Some antigens of A. lumbricoides has been identified, while more can come from investigation. Banana fruit has already been utilized to express virus antigens experimentally. We will utilize genomic and proteomic data of roundoworm to search for possible antigens. Then we will express the line of antigens in cell lines and check if they can produce immunity if delivered to animal models. We will select the antigens with the highest immunogenicity and lower cross-reactiveness to express in banana. We will select a banana line amiable to modifications and insert the coding sequence for the antigen within the banana genome. We will target it specifically to express in the fruit in a controlled level. When expressed, we will undergo animal trials with bananas to see if the antigens still work in this delivery method. If so, we will move on to human trials and check their efficacy and dosage. Our ideal target will be a low-dosage, long-lasting vaccine which can confer resistance for at least 5 years. When a line is established, we will grow the banana in controlled environments and give contract to local farmers who fulfill requirements. The banana can be widely sold in the market and reach children and adults alike.

It is innovative because the approach can reach maximum people in a minimum amount of time and the end-result will be cost-effective. Vaccination and Plant-base vaccines are existing technologies, but they have not been combined to provide a solution to the roundworm problem before.

Our activities can provide a better quality of life expectation for children with limited opportunities by protecting them from malnutrition and ensuring a healthy future.

Within next year, we want to establish a possible vaccine candidate against roundworm that can be carried to bananas. Within five years, we want to be in field trials with the transgenic banana containing the vaccine.

Technical ability to develop a vaccine; Technical and Financial ability to conduct animal trials; Technical and Financial ability to conduct field trials.

Setting up laboratory facilities and streamlining approach.

None.

Technical understanding, Grasping the problem, Focusing on the target group.

None

We propose a controlled planting scheme where farmers who can show necessary requirements for regulation schemes will be allowed to plant the transgenic banana and they can sell them in the market. We as providers will be collecting a percentage of revenue per agreement.

Vaccines are always needed. If a banana is needed for 50 million children per year, that will remain true for quite a few years. A supply and demand scenario that is flexible to the population is vital. And this problem is not limited to Bangladesh, so it can be expanded into other countries with endemic roundworm crisis.