Plant-based vaccine

Researchers are working to produce recombinant proteins from viruses in plants so that the leaves, fruit, or root (such as potatoes) would be edible forms of vaccine. A vaccine that is eaten may be more appealing and suitable than injections, particularly in poor parts of world with limited access to skilled health-care professionals. But there are barriers to the development of plant vaccines. First, there are technical issues. For example, would conditions within the stomach allow the immune system to respond to the protein to provide protection Additionally, some people are concerned about the environmental and health risks of growing vaccine-producing plants in fields. Could the food be safely processed and shipped While the development of plant-based vaccines has been a research success since first reported in 1992, it remains uncertain whether this form of biotechnology will eventually have a major impact on public health. 

Koya, V., Moayeri, M., Leppla, S.H., and Daniell, H. (2005). Plant-based vaccine mice immunized with chloroplast-derived anthrax protective antigen survive anthrax lethal toxin challenge. Infect. Immun. 73(12) 8266-8274. 

Examples of Clinical Studies Using Plant-Based Vaccines... 

Tacket, C.O. (2007). Plant-based vaccines against diarrheal diseases. Trans. Am. Climatol. Assoc. 118 79-87. 

Tregoning, J.S., Clare, S., Bowe, E, Edwards, L., Fairweather, N., Qazi, O., Nixon, PJ., Maliga, G., Dougan, G., Hussell, T. (2005). Protection against tetanus toxin using a plant-based vaccine. Eur. J. Immunol. 35 1320-1326. 

The book concludes with a discussion of the future of plant-based vaccines and other therapeutic proteins with respect to commercial viability and as a tool to improve global public health. Far-reaching in its scope, this text is a baseline reference that students and researchers in a broad range of fields such as medicine, plant science, biotechnology, crop science, natural products chemistry, and engineering will consult regularly. It will also serve as a useful tool for individuals and companies seeking to invest in this dynamic area. 

Katsnelson A, Ransom J, Vermij P, Waltz E (2006), News in brief USDA approves the first plant-based vaccine, Nat. Biotechnol. 24 233-234. 

A plant-based vaccine combines the concepts of a subunit vaccine and the use of plant as an expression system. Several advantages including inexpensive means of expressing proteins, elimination of the risk of contamination with animal... 

Streatfield SJ, Jilka JM, Hood EE, et al. Plant-based vaccines unique advantages. Vaccine, 2001 19(17-19) 2742-2748. 

Wirtz H, Sauer-Bndge AF, Briggs J, Sharpe A, Shu SD, Sharon A. Automated pro-ductirm of plant-based vaccines and pharmacenticals. Jala 2012 17(6) 449-57. 

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