George Angelakis (21 years old), Maria-Theodora Vytiadou (22 years old), Sotiris Marinos (23 years old), Nikos Falalakis (21 years old), Evagoras Christodoulou (24 years old)
BRANCH: Science
A group of 15 students, aged 20-24, from the University of Crete is implementing a project involving an edible vaccine against SARS CoV-2. The group was formed with the support of the Rector’s Office and the overall staff of the University and is the first research group of the University of Crete staffed exclusively by undergraduate students of Biology, Medicine, Informatics and Materials Science. The project focuses on the spike s1 protein of SARS-CoV-2. During the laboratory procedure, students will transform lettuce leaves using the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, so that the leaves express the spike s1 protein from three different strains of SARS-CoV-2 (original coronavirus strain, African). The aim of the project is the transient expression of the spike S1 protein in the leaves, which, after ingestion, will be able to induce an immune response through the intestinal mucosa, produce antibodies and eventually induce immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Such an approach has been used in the past for diseases such as measles, cholera, hepatitis B and C, but this will be the first time that this particular method of immunization against a respiratory virus has been used.
“We’ve done all the research and we’re already in the experimental stage,” says Anastasia Toska, a member of the Wet lab. The group has successfully expressed the synthetic protein in lettuce leaves and the next goal is to administer the edible vaccine to mice. “The stage of a human being consuming it is relatively remote, but in the meantime it could be given to domestic or wild animals, which could reduce the transmission of the virus or even stop the future pandemic.” Team Leader of the team, Vytiadou Maria-Theodora. “Of course, there are ethical issues, but they will be concerned in the long run and not at the current experimental level.”
The team consists of: Angelaki Giorgos (21), Vytiadou Maria-Theodora (22), Karagiannaki Stefano (21), Marino Sotiri (23), Matsi Mario (21), Bandra Stavroula (23), Douni Maria (20) , Droupogianni Antoni (22), Papoutsaki Michalis (20), Petriki Vasiliki (20), Skrepeto Stavros (23), Tzonevraki Ioanni-Rafael (21), Toska Anastasia (20), Falalaki Niko (21), Christodoulou Evagora .
Methodology: Out of the more than 100 nominations collected by “Forbes” – either through applications of the interested parties themselves or through proposals from institutions and competent bodies – the editorial team made a first selection and came up with 50. The jury, which consisted of Mr. Spyros Theodoropoulos (CEO of Chipita), Nikos Karamouzis (former President of Eurobank and the Hellenic Banking Association, President of Grant Thornton), Michalis Bletsas (Director of Informatics at MIT Media Lab), Theocharos Filipos Capital.gr, president of Attica Publications), evaluated the 50 candidacies with scores from 1 (lowest) to 4 (highest), based on which the final ranking was formed. The order of publication is defined according to the members’ rating (from highest to lowest) and then alphabetically. Conditions for participation in the list “Forbes 30 Under 30 Greece 2022” were met by those born from 1/1/1992 onwards.
* Cleesto: The platform that offers digital solutions in the tourism industry
* Project Parenting is the first educational platform that supports parents
* Staiatis Voglis: The startupper who shares the same passion for sustainable fishing and information services
* Stefanos Douskos: He did not give up and was justified
* Marialina Tsinidi: The 17-year-old student whose experiments travel in space
* CollegeLink: The platform that connects young people with the job market
* Nikolas Varveris and OVIVIEW open the door of employers to young people
* Authentic fishing experiences in the Mediterranean via Fisea
* Thanasis Gavelas: The gold paralympian who twice broke the world record in Tokyo
* Video games and virtual reality made in Greece by eNVy softworks and V. Karavasilis
* Carge makes an appointment for charging anywhere in Europe
* Eleni Keliri has set a goal of water consolidation
* ShelfNow: The marketplace that knows traders directly from food producers
* Rebecca Paleologos with Inverzio brings revolution in the field of human interaction
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Source From: Forbes
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