Oh yeah. Get down.
If that funky dance move failed to impress you,
maybe this will.
No? Well, how about this?
That big goofy bird has the antibodies
to beat the COVID-19 Delta variant.
What?
Keep calm.
This leggy bird is about to save the day.
This 130 kg (290 lb) ostrich
can outrun a leopard
and kick a lion
to death.
And it turns out that it is just as tough
on the inside.
Ostriches' immune systems are among the sturdiest
on the planet.
And their eggs could help humans
fight the COVID-19 Delta variant.
Once an animal comes into contact
with a disease-causing bacteria,
virus or fungi,
it learns to fight off future attacks
by developing antibodies.
It will even protect future generations
by passing those antibodies through its bloodstream
to its offspring in its womb or egg.
This is called passive immunization.
And avian antibodies can be transferred to humans
to protect us from diseases we can't fight off on our own.
Scientists have successfully injected
female birds
with dead viruses and bacteria
to trigger their immune responses.
Since the pathogens are dead,
this process is a safe way
to teach the birds’ immune systems
to build antibodies
and pass them on to their egg yolks.
Scientists can then extract
the antibodies from the yolks, purify them
and use them to treat virus and bacterial infections
in people.
This method has successfully developed
cures for diseases
ranging from acne
and psoriasis
to the H1N1 Flu.
And ostriches have been the bird of choice
used to manufacture most of these cures.
These African savannah and grassland-dwelling birds
develop antibodies faster than many other animals.
They also happen to be massive creatures
that lay huge eggs.
A single ostrich egg weighs as much as 24 chicken eggs.
So using female ostriches is an economical way
to produce a high density of antibodies.
Also makes an enormous omelette. Just saying.
Scientists at the OstrichPharm Company in Japan
are currently testing the efficacy of
COVID-19 antibodies
extracted from ostrich eggs.
The birds developed an immune response to the virus
remarkably quickly
in limited lab trials.
Their antibodies
stopped the spread of infection by blocking the virus
from attaching to the surface of healthy cells.
And ostrich antibodies are especially effective
against COVID-19's Delta variant
and other variants.
Ostrich antibodies have shown remarkable success
in containing various flu strains,
including H1N1 and H5N1.
In 2009, surgical masks coated with ostrich antibodies
against the H1N1 virus
blocked 99.9% of viral particles.
Over 12 million masks were sold in Japan.
Researchers are testing a nasal spray
to fight off COVID-19 and its variants.
People using previous flu treatments
containing ostrich antibodies
responded rapidly.
And anyone can use the antibodies,
including people with compromised
immune systems,
children
and pregnant women.
The antibodies could help prevent infections
and treat active infections.
The ostrich’s immune system resulted
from 56 million years of evolution
and survived some of the toughest climatic regions
of the world.
But if you think these big birds gorge
on some exotic superfood,
I have news for you.
The ostrich is a toothless omnivore.
Surviving mostly on seeds,
grass, flowers and leaves,
ostriches enjoy small, meaty snacks
of mice
or snakes.
And to help their guts break down food,
they will happily eat some sand and pebbles too.
There's nothing their tough stomachs can’t handle, eh?
Bet you didn't know I spoke Canadian.
And if you’re thinking of pandemic-proofing
your family
by stocking up on an oversized bird or two,
be warned.
Captive ostriches are famous
for developing mega crushes
on their humans.
Scientists have found 70% of farm-raised ostriches
are likely to try and seduce their constant caregivers
with a sassy mating dance.
Are you tough enough for that? I'm not.
Having super immune systems that fight COVID-19
and kicking lions to death,
that’s what ostriches do.
And that’s why they’re Crazy Creatures.