Unlike tattoo machines used at tattoo salons, the medically modified tattoo vaccination gun doesn’t use ink but instead implants DNA fragments underneath the epidermis of the skin. The result is a very inflammed wound on the exterior of the skin, which in return stimulates the response of the immune system.

Curiously enough, in a study with mice, researchers have found that a series of three DNA vaccines produced an antibody response that was 16 times greater than the series of single needle intramuscular vaccinations. The general theory behind it echoes that the greater the damage to the body by tattoo needles, the better the response and stimulation of the immune system.

More importantly, BBC has reported, scientists in Germany accrediting the fact that Tattos may actually be a useful way of dishing-out therapeutic vaccines to humans, even those suffering from various types of cancers. They tested the tattoos on mice by vaccinating them with a protein fragment of human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. As a result, they found that three doses of DNA vaccine given by tattooing produced at least 16 times higher antibody levels than three intramuscular injections.

Some scientists believe that using fragments of DNA to stimulate an immune response is a promising way of making better vaccines for everything from flu to cancer. With flu, we are reminded of the Swine Flu virus causing a stir among nations. Latest vaccines for this dreaded virus, comes from Europes eminent Drug maker ‘Novartis AG’ which announced June 12, 2009, Friday that it has successfully produced the first batch of H1N1 swine flu. The World Health Organisation or WHO, can now breath a sigh of relief. Although they have more than 70 countries to save from the horrifying viral infection, their initial fear of the swine flu, being another pandemic since 1968, is over.

Resources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7231913.stm

http://www.gvt-journal.com/

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/02/08/2157998.htm

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/vaccinations/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100240311&gt1=31049