Squalene plays a powerful role in some of the additives, called adjuvants, that boost the body?s immune response to a vaccine?s active ingredient. And the most concentrated source of high-purity squalene is th e livers of sharks, particularly in shark species that live in deep water.
So here we go again with yet another slaughter unless the the synthetic sou rces ramp up and prove acceptable.
, that boost the body?s immune response to a vaccine?s acti ve ingredient. And the most concentrated source of high-purity squalene is the livers of sharks, particularly in shark species that live in deep water .
ources ramp up and prove acceptable.
lene-vaccines/98/i47
It's a fairly big hydrocarbon (C30 H50). Sharks aren't the only source. The y may be the cheapest source at the moment, though over-fishing might chang e that
"Environmental and other concerns over shark hunting have motivated its ext raction from other sources. Vegetable sources (primarily vegetable oils) in clude amaranth seed, rice bran, wheat germ, and olives. Biosynthetic proces ses using genetically engineered yeast or bacteria are also used."
The sharks may survive to eat a few more Australian swimmers.
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