Monoclonal antibodies, rabies virus

Rabies virus protein Monoclonal antibody (mAb S057) Rabies virus neutralization N. tabacum cv Xanthi 35 S MSP +KDEL + 3 pg/g FLW (0.07% TSP) 33... 

Mammalian cells are commonly employed for the production of therapeutic and diagnostic proteins, since they are able to correctly synthetize the large and complex structures that the human body requires as medicine [1]. Nowadays, they are employed for the large-scale production of recombinant therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and viruses used in the preparation of vaccines (e.g. against rabies, hepathytis B, polio, etc) [2]. An overview of some licensed/approved products derived from mammalian cell culture is given in Table 1. 

Monoclonal Antibodies Expressed in Plants against Rabies Virus... 

Treatment involves the application of rabies-specific antibodies that are infiltrated around the bite wound, in addition to immunization. The antibodies provide passive protection and are able to neutralize the virus. For developing countries, these antibodies are both too expensive and difficult to produce in large quantities. In addition to this, there is a dramatic shortage of rabies monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) available on a worldwide basis. The production of inexpensive and safe plant-derived MAbs would be useful in postexposure prophylaxis-global health benefit. 

Tobacco cell culture Anti-rabies virus monoclonal antibodies Girard et al., 2006 0.5 mg/L Disposable plastic bioreactor... 

Girard, L.S., Fabis, M.J., Bastin, M., Courtois, D., Petiard, V., and Koprowski, H. (2006). Expression of a human anti-rabies virus monoclonal antibody in tobacco cell cultnre. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 345(2) 602-607. 

Monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic and diagnostic use seem to be the best potential successful products produced in plants, but they currently have not reached the marketplace. Tobacco plants are the most commonly used plant in these developments. Hepatitis B surface protein and rabies virus glycoprotein are examples of advances in edible vaccines. 

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