Pre-reading questions:
- Do you have a weak body?
- What do you usually do when you are sick?
A company has found a way to extract human antibodies from cows. This can help fight infectious diseases. They are testing if this can be a cure for MERS. MERS is a respiratory disease found in Saudi Arabia back in 2012. It killed almost 30 percent of the infected patients.
Scientists tested antibodies from other animals but the human body rejects it. As of now, they are the only company that grows antibodies from hefty mammals. This new discovery can be combined with vaccines. It may become available in 3 to 5 years.
Vocabulary:
antibodies – [noun] proteins which function to identify and help remove viruses and bacteria inside the body
reject – [verb] to refuse to accept
hefty – [adjective] big and strong
combine – [verb] to become one
vaccines – [noun] a substance injected to a person to protect them from diseases
Comprehension Questions:
- Where did the company extract human antibodies from?
- Where did MERS originate?
- When did MERS kill its infected victims?
- Can this method be combined with vaccines?
- When will this method be available?
Express Your Opinion:
- Is it okay for humans to use animal antibodies to fight diseases?
- If you were sick, would you consider receiving these antibodies to save your life?
- Modern science and medicine is fascinating.