ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Edible algae vaccine

An edible algae vaccine works just like any other vaccine. It is designed to protect you from getting sick by teaching your body how to fight off a harmful infection or virus.

Algae are tiny organisms that live in the water and produce their food from sunlight, just like plants. Scientists can modify these algae to produce proteins that trigger an immune response in the body. These proteins are the same ones found in viruses or bacteria, but they are not harmful on their own.

When you eat the algae vaccine, your body recognizes these proteins as foreign invaders and starts to create special defenses called antibodies to fight them off. These antibodies stay in your body and protect you from getting sick if you come into contact with the real, harmful virus or bacteria later on.

The advantage of an edible algae vaccine is that it can be grown easily and cheaply, and it does not require refrigeration, unlike other traditional vaccines. It also does not contain any animal products, making it suitable for people with certain dietary restrictions.

In summary, an edible algae vaccine is a special type of vaccine made from algae which teaches our body how to fight off harmful infections or viruses, by producing special defenses called antibodies, which protect us from getting sick.