Chimpanzee Poop Is Helping Prevent Spread Of COVID-19, Here’s How

Photo courtesy: World Wildlife Fund

New Delhi: Did you know that the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (Covishield in India) is made from an adenovirus isolated from chimpanzee poop. It has been genetically changed so that it is impossible for it to grow in humans. What is now known as COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, was formerly called AZD1222, News18 reported quoting IANS.

AZD1222 was co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein, the report added.

After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus if it later infects the body. The vaccine has been granted a conditional marketing authorisation or emergency use in more than 70 countries across six continents, News18 reported.

The Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, is manufacturing a version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine Covishield in India.