"Mask Lights Up When Positive for COVID-19"… Japan Develops Mask That Indicates COVID-19 Infection Status

Utilization of Antibodies Extracted from Ostrich Eggs

The coronavirus that came into contact with the fluorescent dye-coated mask filter is glowing under ultraviolet light. Photo by Kyoto Prefectural University

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A Japanese university research team has developed a 'fluorescent mask' that reacts to the coronavirus using ostrich eggs.

Kyodo News reported on the 8th that a research team at Kyoto Prefectural University, led by President Masahiro Tsukamoto Yasuhiro, developed a mask that allows easy detection of virus infection.

Ostriches are known to have an excellent ability to produce various types of antibodies or proteins when pathogens invade. Accordingly, the research team succeeded in extracting a large amount of antibodies from eggs laid by female ostriches injected with inactivated coronavirus in February last year.

The mask developed by the research team this time is coated with a mixture of antibodies extracted from ostrich eggs and fluorescent dye on the mask filter. When exposed to the virus, the parts of the mask that come into contact with the virus glow brightly under ultraviolet light.

The research team conducted experiments for up to 10 days with 32 people infected with the coronavirus, confirming that all masks worn by them glowed under ultraviolet light and that the glow decreased as the virus diminished.

President Tsukamoto, the research director, also personally experienced the effect of this mask. After seeing the mask glow under ultraviolet light while wearing it, Professor Tsukamoto underwent a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and confirmed that he was infected with the COVID-19 virus.

Earlier in the early 1990s, President Tsukamoto discovered that ostriches are less susceptible to diseases compared to other poultry and began focusing on uncovering the secret of the ostrich's high immunity.

In an interview with Kyodo News, he said, "We plan to conduct a second experiment with 150 participants soon," adding, "We also want to create a simple test kit that anyone can use in the future."

Meanwhile, the research team plans to commercialize this mask as early as 2022 after obtaining government approval.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.