Advertisement

Updated July 8th, 2020 at 16:12 IST

Horseshoe crab blood essential in making coronavirus vaccine: WEF

Horseshoe blood is blue because it is rich in copper and it clots when it encounters bacteria, making it essential in making drugs for human use.

Reported by: Vishal Tiwari
Horseshoe
| Image:self
Advertisement

Horseshoe crabs are a key ingredient in making coronavirus vaccine, according to a report published in the World Economic Forum. As per the report, currently, there are 400 coronavirus drugs and vaccines in development, which all need to be tested using horseshoe crab blood. Horseshoe crab blood, which is blue in colour and is often referred to as blue gold because of the sky-touching price, is instrumental in the testing of vaccines around the world as it helps in detecting fatal bacterial endotoxins in drugs.

Read: US Grants $1.6 Billion To Novavax For COVID-19 Vaccine Project Under Operation Warp Speed

"Since the late 1970s, the clotting agent in the Atlantic horseshoe crab’s blood has been used for the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test, which detects bacterial endotoxins in drugs and intravenous devices. This kind of contamination could be harmful and even fatal to patients if it gets into the bloodstream. Scientists take about a third of a horseshoe crab’s blood for use in the tests, after which the creature is released back into the ocean. Companies that make LAL tests say the animals are not harmed during the procedure," the WEF report said. 

Read: China's Sinovac Biotech Starts Phase III Trials Of Its Potential COVID-19 Vaccine

Horseshoe crab blood is blue because it is rich in copper and it clots when it encounters bacteria, making it both a lifesaver to the horseshoe crab and essential to making drugs today. Horseshoe crabs are commonly fished off the East Coast of the United States for use in medicine.

Read: COVID-19: NIH And DBT To Meet This Week; Review On Vaccine Candidates Likely

"About 70 million endotoxin tests are performed annually in a roughly $1 billion market. And the horseshoe crab blood currently so essential to its operation is thought to be worth about $16,000 dollars a litre", WEF quoted Bloomberg in its report. The blood is going to be essential in making the COVID-19 vaccine and providing billions of doses that will be needed around the world until a man-made alternative is developed. 

Environmental risks

Environmentalists are worried that this may result in the decline of horseshoe population and their habitat, which would affect the ecosystem as it helps other creatures too, like providing food for bird species. According to some estimates, 15 percent of horseshoe crabs die as a result of the process of scientists taking their blood for use in tests. There is also concern the horseshoe crab is facing pressure as a result of it being used as bait for fishing.  

Read: Man Avoids Prison For Threatening Vaccine Bill Supporter
 

Advertisement

Published July 8th, 2020 at 16:12 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Christopher, Wife Emma To Get British Knighthood And Damehood
4 minutes ago
The tax notice sent to the Congress party pertains to the assessment years 2017 to 2021.
13 minutes ago
Tie-dye printed shirts
17 minutes ago
A case has been registered against former minister and BRS working president KTR in Hanmakonda
17 minutes ago
Ramban Accident
29 minutes ago
Bitcoin
30 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE
33 minutes ago
Faridabad Fire: Massive Blaze Engulfs Factory in Bhankri Village, Panic Grips Locality
42 minutes ago
Riyan Parag
43 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo